ess  -  • 


STACK 
ANNUX 


THE  MORNING  STAR, 

AND 

MISCELLANEOUS  POEMS. 


THE  MORNING  STAR; 


OR, 


WAY-SIDE  MUSINGS, 


AND 


BY 

WILLIAM  NEWTON, 

RECTOR  OF  THE  CHUKCH  OF  THE  NATIVITY,  PHILADELPHIA. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
CLAXTON,  REMSEN  &  HAFFELFINGER, 

624,  626  &  628  MARKET  STREET. 
I874. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1873,  by 

CLAXTON,  REMSEN  &  HAFFELFINGER, 
in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


^Mg 

J.    FAGAX   &    SOX,  *^ 

STEREOTYPER8.    PIIll.AD'A. 


THE  story  of  this  Little  Book  is  very  soon  told. 
Twenty  -  five  years  ago,  the  subject  first  sug- 
gested itself.  The  course  of  thought,  in  its  general 
outline,  was  determined  on ;  the  title  selected,  and  the 
opening  lines,  as  they  now  stand,  were  written.  It  was 
to  be,  literally,  Way-Side  Musings ;  for  those  lines  were 
written  —  as,  indeed,  I  expected  the  whole  to  be  — 
during  the  course  of  my  daily  walk  of  three  miles,  to 
and  from  the  school  I  was  then  teaching.  How  well 
do  I  remember  turning  aside,  and  resting  my  little 
blank  book  on  the  top-rail  of  the  worm-fence,  by  the 
road-side,  as  I  hurriedly  dotted  down  my  thoughts. 

I  was  younger  then  than  now :  and  supposed  that  I 
could  finish  my  Poem,  before  my  six  months'  engage- 
ment as  a  Teacher,  had  expired.  But  I  retain  the  Title 
still ;  for  I  confess  to  a  fondness  for  it  which  it  would 
be  false  to  deny,  and  foolish  to  attempt  to  conceal. 

vii 

2045695 


Viii  PREFACE. 

Since  that  time,  this  subject  has  never  been  forgotten  : 
and  my  purpose  concerning  it,  never  laid  aside.  Con- 
sciously and  unconsciously,  my  thoughts  have  dwelt 
upon  it.  Its  completion  has  been  the  purpose  of  my 
life.  It  is  my  Life  Thought.  More  than  anything  else, 
I  have  desired  to  put  into  form,  the  conceptions  of  the 
Love  of  God,  manifested  in  Jesus  Christ,  as  they  move 
and  glow  in  my  own  heart.  Perhaps  they  may  cheer 
and  strengthen  others,  as  they  have  cheered  and 
strengthened  me.  Still,  I  lay  down  my  pen,  with  a  sort 
of  regret,  as  I  remember  that  Way-Side  Musings  and  I, 
are  to  be  travelling  companions  no  more ! 

PHILADELPHIA,  October,  1873. 


THE  MORNING  STAR. 
CANTO  I. 

PAC;B 

GOD'S  GREAT  DESIGN     .        .        .        .  .        .        .13 

CANTO  II. 
THE  UNFOLDING 41 

CANTO  III 
THE  RESULT 87 


MISCELLANEOUS   POEMS. 

THE  STORY  OF  LITTLE  THINGS 127 

TWILIGHT  MUSINGS 142 

THE  STILL  WATERS        .  , 145 

THE  CAPTIVE  EAGLE 147 

EPIGRAM 150 

iv 


X  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

A  PAUABLE •  i$l 

INSCRIPTION  ON  A  SUN-DIAL  .  .  153 

THE  WHITE  STONE 1 56 

FELLOWSHIP     .        .       .        .        : 159 

THE  DEAD  CHRIST      .  163 

AN  AUTUMN  RAMBLE 166 

THOU  SETTEST  ME  BEFORE  THY  FACE      .        .        .        .      171 

To  A  FRIEND  ON  HIS  ORDINATION        .     * .        .        .        .173 

THE  VISION  OF  LOVE  .        .        .        .  .        .        .178 

THE  SECRET 186 


CANTO  FIRST. 


GOD'S  GREAT  DESIGN. 


CANTO   I. 

ARGUMENT:  Invocation:  Design  everywhere,  manifest.  Why?  End 
of  Art  not  its  own  display ;  Something  beyond.  So  God  has  a  great 
end  in  view.  Greatness  of,  inferred  from  Creation's  greatness.  Crea- 
tion, what?  Revelations  of  Astronomy.  God  before  them  all.  Saw 
all  He  meant  to  do ;  and  all  that  would  come  of  His  doing  it.  Saw  it 
was  best  to  do  it.  Evils  of  Sin.  Redemption.  God's  Plan  for  putting 
them  all  away :  and  bringing  in  greater  blessings.  Redemption,  no 
after-thought.  First  in  order  with  Him.  Creation  a  consequence  of  Re- 
demption. 

Eternity  of  God.  Always  the  same.  But  who  tell  us  this?  God  must 
reveal  Himself.  The  World,  a  stage  for  this.  How  made?  Creation; 
what  we  learn  from  ?  Difficulties  in.  Cannot  remove  them.  Must  wait. 
For  what?  God  manifest  in  Christ.  Result  of  His  work.  His  Cross, 
Central  Figure  in  the  Universe.  God  displayed  therein.  Earth,  as 
having  borne  the  Cross:  What  it  shall  be?  Full  histoiy  of,  not  yet 
reached.  All  ills  removed  by  Redemption.  God's  Self-Revelation,  His 
great  end :  Would  have  all  His  creatures  know  and  love  Him.  There- 
fore, reveals  Himself:  General  summing  up. 


THE  MORNING  STAR. 


GOD'S  GREAT  DESIGN. 
I. 

ETERNAL  Spirit !  Source  of  Light  and  Truth ! 
With  whom  no  darkness  clwelleth  !  In  whose  sight, 
The  things  that  are,  and  those  that  shall  be,  lie 
Alike  disclosed,  both  as  to  secret  cause 
And  unknown  consequence:  to  Thee  I  come, 
And  ask  for  light  to  guide  me.     Hold  my  hand 
That  I  may  stumble  not,  nor  go  astray. 
Within  my  spirit  shine  to  give  the  light 
Of  Thine  own  Spirit.     Teach  me  how  to  soar 
Up  to  the  height  of  Thine  own  thought,  and  trace 
Its  grand  unfolding,  as  it  always  dwelt, 
A  living  fact  with  Thee.     For  who  can  think 
Thought  so  adventurous  by  himself,  alone  ? 
Drive  Thou  away  my  darkness.     On  my  sight, 
Pour  Thy  celestial  ray.     Let  all  within 

2  13 


14  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Be  instinct  with  Thyself:  that  I  may  show 
Thine  own  conceptions  to  the  sons  of  men. 

II. 

The  world  is  full  of  infinite  design. 
There  's  not  an  atom  in  the  boundless  range 
Of  Nature's  vast  dominions,  but  sustains 
Its  wise  relations ;  works  some  given  end  ; 
And  yields  obedience  to  its  special  law. 
And  Science,  in  the  grandeur  of  its  march, 
Now,  through  the  wonders  of  the  starry  worlds ; 
And  now,  through  those  the  Microscope  reveals ; 
And  all  that  lie  between,  teaches  this  truth, 
That  nothing  is,  but  for  some  higher  end 
Than  its  own  being.     Every  thing  that  is, 
Works  for  some  other  thing ;  and  serves,  through 

that, 

A  purpose  nobler  than  itself  alone 
Could  reach  in  the  Great  Plan.    The  autumn  leaf 
Falls  not  without  its  mission  ;  and  the  breeze, 
That  scarcely  sways  the  willow's  pendent  bough, 
Has  its  own  law ;  and  serves  its  end  as  well, 
As  do  the  rise  and  setting  of  the  sun. 
The  dew-drop's  brightness  is  not  for  itself: 
The  floweret's  beauty  has  not  been  in  vain, 
When  Man  beholds  it  not :  for  everywhere, 
The  law  of  uses  is  the  law  of  God. 
And  all  His  works  proclaim  one  Ruling  Mind, 
And  take  their  place  in  some  exact  design. 


GOD'S    GREAT    DESIGN.  15 

III. 

Can  we  unfold  the  reason  ?     Can  we  tell 

Why  this  display  of  Wisdom  and  of  Power  ? 

Can  we,  without  presumption,  seek  to  lift 

The  veil  that  hides  His  purpose  from  our  view? 

This  much,  at  least,  is  clear.     Not  for  itself 

Was  Earth  called  into  being.     There  must  be 

Some  purpose,  higher  than  the  mere  display 

Of  Infinite  perfections  ;  or  this  world 

And  its  surrounding  orbs  would  ne'er  have  been. 

Suns,  Stars  and  Flowers  alike  proclaim  this  truth ; 

And  speak  of  something  as  the  Primal  Thought, 

In  the  Creator's  mind.     E'en  human  Art 

Keeps  this  before  it ;  and  in  all  its  works 

Proposes  to  itself  some  worthier  end, 

Than  the  display  of  art.     Is  it  for  this 

Our  Steamers  plough  the  Ocean  ?     Is  it  this 

That  bids  our  Railroads  stretch  their  iron  bands 

Across  the  continent,  and  into  one 

United  Whole  bind  all  its  differing  parts  ? 

Is  it  for  this  that  Telegraphic  wires 

Circle  the  globe ;  and  at  each  hearth-stone,  tell 

The  daily  news  from  earth's  remotest  bounds  ? 

Man's  Art  can  do  all  this ;  but  in  it  all, 

Acts  for  some  fitting  end.     It  looks  beyond  ; 

And  to  the  purpose,  it  designs  to  serve, 

Adapts  the  means  it  uses.     And  shall  we 

Interpret  our  Creator,  by  a  rule 


l6  THE    MORNING    STAR.- 

Unworthy  of  ourselves  ?     Shall  we  believe, 

That  when  He  manifests  creative  skill, 

And  bids  the  Universe  display  His  power, 

He  has  no  thought  beyond  its  mere  display  ? 

No.     From  Creation's  grandeur,  we  infer 

How  infinitely  glorious  must  be 

The  Great  Design  for  which  the  World  was  made : 

The  mighty  Plan  for  whose  development, 

He  forms  a  sphere,  magnificent  as  this ! 

IV. 

But  who  can  tell  how  vast  Creation  is  ? 

We  take  the  glass  of  the  Astronomer, 

And  turn  it  to  the  sky.     What  meets  our  gaze  ? 

See !     From  the  far-off  worlds  that  roll  above ; 

From  other  Suns  and  Systems,  beams  of  light, 

On  their  long  journey  of  uncounted  years,* 

Come  thronging  to  the  eye !  What  are  those  beams  ? 

News-Bearers  from  those  shining  orbs ;  and  bring 

Tidings  from  distant  worlds — perhaps  from  worlds, 

No  longer  in  existence.     Who  can  tell  ? 

Who  can  declare  what  changes  may  have  swept 

Across  their  surface,  since  to  this,  our  Earth, 

Those  beams  of  light  set  forth  ?  Or  could  we  stand, 

As  sentinels,  upon  the  outside  world, 

Of  this  our  little  System  ;  and  look  out 

*  "  The  rays  of  light  from  the  remotest  nebulae  must  have 
been  about  two  millions  of  years  on  their  way."  — Sir  Wm. 
Herschell,  in  Transactions  for  1802,  p.  498. 


GOD'S    GREAT    DESIGN.  IJ 

Into  the  space  beyond  ;  what  would  we  see  ? 

Myriads  of  worlds,  in  strange  profusion  cast  — 

Star-clouds,  compacted  in  such  close  array, 

That,  to  our  vision,  they  appear  as  belts 

Of  milky  light,  which  no  resolving  power 

Of  Telescope  can  separate.     Yet  each 

Has  its  own  orbit ;  and  moves  calmly  forth    - 

In  its  appointed  time.     Outside  of  these, 

Others  are  seen  ;  lying  as  far  from  them, 

As  these  are  from  our  System ;  and  yet,  all 

Form  one  harmonious  and  united  whole. 

And  Thought  is  dumb,  and  Fancy  droops  its  wings, 

Before  this  grand  display  of  worlds  on  worlds,- 

As  countless  as  the  drops  of  morning  dew  ! 

Yet,  in  Creation's  System,  ere  the  first 

Of  those  innumerable  orbs  had  birth ; 

Ere  in  the  silence  of  eternity, 

Creation's  work  first  sounded,  —  God  was  there  ; 

As,  through  the  unbroken  silence  of  the  past, 

He  had  forever,  been.     The  Cause,  uncaused ; 

Standing  before  all  being ;  in  Himself 

The  Source  and  Origin  of  all  beside. 

For  God's  /  Am  becomes  the  active  source 

Of  everything  that  is.     Apart  from  Him, 

There  is  no  life,  no  motion.     He  contains 

The  spring  of  all  things  in  Himself  alone. 

And,  as  He  wills  it,  they  go  forth,  and  are 

The  countless  forms  of  life  and  joy  that  make 

The  glorious  fulness  of  Creation's  works. 


18  .     THE    MORNING    STAR. 

V. 

Alone,  in  His  eternity  He  saw 
All  that  He  meant  to  do.     Before  His  glance 
There  rose  the  perfect  vision  of  His  works. 
As  first  He  formed  them  ;  and  as  once  again 
,  They  shall  appear,  when  the  restraining  power 
Of  Sin  shall  be  no  more ;  and  Earth  shall  wear 
The  sinless  glory  of  her  first  estate. 
He  saw  it  all ;  and,  as  it  stood  defined 
In  His  conception  of  the  blessedness 
That  would  result  therefrom,  His  Spirit  owned 
The  sense  of  joy,  that  joy  imparted,  gives. 
For,  all  the  blessings  that  would  surely  flow 
From  His  great  work,  would  be  secured  alone 
By  His  Self-Sacrifice.     Yet,  seeing  this, 
All  His  delights  were  with  the  sons  of  men ; 
And  with  the  outcome  of  that  glorious  plan, 
That  measured  His  own  fulness  in  the  Cross. 
'T  was  not  Creation  only  that  inspired ; 
But,  in  its  budding  glories,  He  beheld 
The  fruits  of  full  Redemption,     And  for  this, 
He  measured  out  the  universe ;  and  breathed 
The  living  spirit  of  a  thought  of  God 
Through  all  His  works ;  and  to  its  music,  set 
Alike  the  least  and  loftiest  of  His  works. 
Nothing  escaped  His  glance.     Each  special  act 
That  swells  Creation's  history ;  each  world 
That  was  to  be  created ;  every  form, 


GOD   S    GREAT    DESIGN.  IQ 

Which,  in  the  cycle  of  revolving  years, 

He  destined  to  inhabit  it,  He  saw ; 

And,  in  the  fulness  of  His  searching  glance, 

Gave  each  its  place  and  mission.     Every  change 

That  was  to  sweep  its  surface ;  every  law 

That  governed  every  portion,  and  impressed 

Their  properties  on  matter's  countless  forms 

Each  act  of  each  of  its  inhabitants  ; 

And  the  vast  total  of  results  that  flow 

As  one  begets  another,  and  links  in 

To  form  causation's  never-ending  chain ; 

Rose  up  before  Him,  as  His  eye  surveyed 

What  He  designed  to  do.     It  stood  defined, 

As  the  Creator's  Panoramic  view, 

Revolving  silently  before  His  glance, 

Ere  His  great  work  began.     For  in  His  mind, 

That  always  is,  which  He  designs  to  do. 

He  is  its  being.     It  exists  in  Him. 

Heaven  is  the  open  page  on  which  He  writes ; 

And  worlds  flow  forth  as  words  do  from  the  pen 

With  which  we  trace  our  thoughts.     But,  ere  His 

hand 

Had  written  out  those  glorious  characters 
That  make  Creation's  beauty,  they  were  still 
Facts  in  His  purpose  ;  no  less  fixed  and  sure 
Than  when  He  gave  to  them  objective  form 
Before  His  creatures'  vision.     In  His  mind, 
They  were,  because  He  willed  them  ;  but  to  us, 
They  come,  as  stars  do,  living  in  the  light, 


2O  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Yet  looking  down  upon  us  from  the  sky, 
Only  when  darkness  brings  them  out  to  view. 

VI. 

And  thus,  in  perfect  range,  His  eye  took  in 

His  Great  Design,  and  every  consequence 

Near  and  remote,  that  would  result  therefrom. 

All  the  disturbing  causes  that  would  spring 

From  Man's  revolt ;  and  the  unending  ills 

That  would  have  spread,  like  ripples  on  the  lake, 

Until  they  reached  Creation's  utmost  bound ; 

If  it  were  left  unmatched  and  unatoned, 

Came  into  view  before  Him.     It  was  not 

An  unforeseen  event,  when  Man  resolved 

To  set  up  his  own  will  against  the  will 

Of  his  Creator,  as  his  rightful  law ; 

And  try  the  Evil,  as  a  thing  unknown, 

And  so,  by  possibility,  a  Good. 

No.     Its  occurrence  was  a  thing  assumed, 

As  the  dark  background  of  the  glorious  Plan, 

By  which  all  evil  shall  be  put  away : 

The  Problem  of  Creation  solved,  at  last ; 

The  good  secured ;  and  every  creature  fixed 

In  loving  loyalty  before  His  throne. 

And  in  the  Coming  Day,  when  this  Great  Thought 

Of  the  Creator,  statue-like,  shall  be_ 

Unveiled  before  His  creatures:  they  shall  see 

Its  grand  results  achieved  :  the  world  redeemed ; 


GOD   S    GREAT    DESIGN.  21 

And  men  and  angels  made  to  stand  secure, 
In  the  great  issues  of  the  work  of  Christ. 
Self-Revelation  therefore  is  the  end 
He  always  had  in  view ;  since  thus  alone, 
He  could  attract  all  creatures  to  Himself; 
And  thus  enable  them  to  find  in  Him, 
The  Source  and  Secret  of  all  creature  good ! 
God,  rightly  known  is  God  supremely  loved. 

VII. 

This  was  the  vision  that  before  Him  rose ; 
And  seeing  it,  He  still,  esteemed  it  best, 
To  give  Creation  scope ;  and  thus  bring  in 
Redemption's  glorious  scheme  ;  which  underlies 
All  else  that  God  has  done.     For  all  His  works 
Are  but  as  Heralds  in  forerunning  this. 
Creation  was  determined  on,  because 
Redemption  was  His  purpose.     And  the  worlds 
That  Science  has  revealed  ;  or,  with  the  aid 
Of  stronger  instruments  may,  yet,  make  known  ; 
Are  only  points,  in  which  the  full  display 
Of  God's  Great  Purpose  in  the  work  of  Christ, 
Shall  yet,  be  fully  made.     It  shall  be  known 
Throughout  Creation's  limits.     Everywhere, 
The  story  of  His  love  shall  be  rehearsed, 
By  those  who  know  its  fulness ;  and  the  worlds 
Now,  only  known  as  distant  stars,  shall  be 
Prepared  as  Homes  where  His  redeemed  shall 
dwell. 


22  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

In  gushing  sweetness,  through  the  fields  of  light, 

The  story  of  Redemption,  through  His  blood, 

Shall  yet  be  heard  for  everlasting  years, 

And  every  star  be  vocal  with  His  praise. 

Creation  finds  its  meaning  in  the  Cross. 

Its  real  grandeur  awes  you  and  inspires 

As  there  you  trace  God's  thoughts  ;  and  see  the 

work 

That  complements  Creation,  take  its  place, 
Beaming  serenest  light,  and  filling  it, 
Not  with  the  glory  of  a  God  of  Power, 
So  much  as  with  the  wonders  of  His  Love. 

VIII. 

God,  then,  existed  from  eternity, 

The  same  that  He  is  now.     The  same  in  love : 

In  His  capacity  for  love  the  same : 

The  same  in  everything  that  makes  Him  God. 

Yet  who  shall  know  this?     Who  shall  make  it 

known ; 

Or  show  to  Man  the  mystery  of  God  ? 
Only  Himself.     The  Finite  cannot  soar 
To  grasp  the  Infinite ;  and  Man  would  be 
Equal  to  God,  if  He  had  power  to  show 
The  secrets  of  God's  nature.     He  Himself 
Must  lift  the  veil  that  hides  Him  from  our  view ; 
And  coming  forth  reveal  Himself  to  Man. 
This  is  man's  greatest  need.     Amid  the  wrecks 


GOD'S    GREAT    DESIGN.  23 

That  speak  to  us  of  his  disordered  powers, 

This  stands  alone,  as  witness  to  the  rank 

In  which  he  first  was  formed  —  a  Creature,  made 

With  the  capacity  of  knowing  God ! 

This  mark  is  Man's  alone.     There  is  not  one 

Of  all  the  creatures  round  him,  that  can  share 

This  high  distinction  with  him.     As  the  eye 

Is  made  for  lio-ht,  so  Man  is  made  for  God. 

<j         ' 

He  is  his  real  end.     In  Him  alone 
His  wants  are  met:  his  nature  matched  by  One, 
In  whose  unbounded  fulness  he  can  float ; 
And  find  his  powers  expanding  as  he  moves. 
Man  has  no  need  like  this ;  no  want  so  great, 
As  that  which  cries  for  God :  and  God  no  power 
Like  that  by  which  He  shows  Himself  to  Man. 
But  how  can  this  be  done  ?     Can  Mortals  look 
On  the  Immortal  One  ?     Can  Man  sustain 
The  vision  of  God's  glory?     Can  his  eye 
Endure  the  splendor  of  that  cloudless  light 
In  which  Jehovah  robes  Himself?     How  then, 
Can  God  be  known  ?     Can  He  reveal  Himself 
To  creatures  whom  the  vision  would  destroy? 
Thus  was  all  hope  shut  out:  till  God  Himself 
Came  nigh  to  answer  to  His  creatures'  needs. 
He  would  come  forth,  from  the  essential  light, 
In  which  He  dwelt,  as  unincarnate  God, 
And  show  Himself  to  Man.     He  would  put  on 
The  garment  of  a  nature,  not  His  own ; 
That,  through  this  tempered  medium,  men  might 
look 


24  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

And  learn  how  God  had  yearned  with  tender  love, 

For  His  rebellious  creatures ;  how  He  could 

To  Man's  estate  stoop  from  His  heavenly  Throne, 

Veil  His  Divinity  in  mortal  flesh ; 

And  thus,  in  His  humanity,  become 

The  Kinsman  of  our  race :  and  working  out 

The  problem  of  the  Evil  on  His  Cross, 

Make  that  the  point  where  God  and  Man  may  be 

At  one  again  in  Him  ;  bound  with  the  tie 

Of  His  great  love  which  stooped  to  Death  for  this  ! 


IX. 

Thus,  then,  Creation  took  its  fitting  place, 
Forerunner  of  Redemption.     Thus,  among 
Surrounding  worlds  the  Earth  came  forth  to  be. 
The  chosen  sphere,  where  the  Redeeming  God 
Should  take  our  form,  and  in  it  image  forth 
The  Invisible  to  Man.     And  does  not  this 
Mark  it,  amidst  its  sisterhood  of  worlds, 
With  a  peculiar  glory  ?     Is  it  not 
The  one  distinction,  that  must  ever  shed 
A  halo  round  its  history  ?     For  when 
The  Spirit  brooded  o'er  the  dark  abyss, 
And  moulded  into  form  the  shapeless  mass 
That  lay  beneath,  it  was  for  this  great  end. 
For  this  the  Earth  was  finished ;  and  for  this 
The  morning-stars  sang  out  with  shouts  of  joy. 
For  here,  the  Problem  of  the  Good  and  111 


GOD'S    GREAT    DESIGN.  25 

Should  find  its  true  solution  ;  and  be  laid 
At  rest  forever.     Here,  the  God  of  Grace 
Should  meet  Man's  sin,  as  sunbeams  do  the  clouds, 
And  spread  from  this,  through  all  surrounding 

worlds, 

The  more  than  rainbow  glories  of  His  love.* 
For  what  God  is,  as  now  we  see  Him  in 
The  work  of  Jesus  Christ,  He  always  was : 
In  His  deep,  tender,  patient  love  the  same. 
Ready  for  His  Self-Sacrifice ;  if  thus 
He  could  secure  His  creature's  highest  good, 
By  fixing  their  best  love  upon  Himself. 
And  thus,  the  glory  of  His  attributes, 
Resides  in  Him,  as 'rainbows  in  the  light; 
Unseen  and  unsuspected,  till  the  cloud 
Of  Man's  great  sin  encounters  it.     And  then, 
Justice  and  Mercy,  Wisdom,  Grace,  and  Truth, 
Come  forth  in  beauty,  like  prismatic  rays, 
And  bend  their  arch  of  glory  around  the  Cross. 
And,  through  the  course  of  everlasting  years, 
That  glory  shall  continue,  and  diffuse 
Its  radiant  light  on  all  things.     There  we  learn 

*How  clearly  St.  Paul  states  this "God,  who 

created  all  things  by  Jesus  Christ,  to  the  intent  that  now  unto 
the  principalities  and  powers,  in  the  heavenlies,  might  be 
known  by  the  Church,  the  manifold  wisdom  of  God." — Eph. 
iii.  9,  10. 

Now,  when  one  thing  is  done  to  the  intent  that  something  else 
should   follow,   that  other  thing  is  the   reason  of  its  being 
done.     Redemption,  therefore,  underlies  Creation. 
3 


26  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

What  God  is  in  His  nature.     There  we  see 
How  Love,  in  its  unfolding,  clears  away 
The  darkness  that  remains,  when  every  source 
But  this  has  been  appealed  to  for  its  light. 
Stronger  than  Power ;  it  conquers  where  that  fails. 
Wiser  than  Wisdom ;  it  resolves  the  doubts 
Which  Wisdom  cannot  reach,  and  sweetly  blends 
The  varied  colors  in  the  light  of  Truth. 

X. 

But  is  there  not  in  Nature,  light  enough 

To  show  us  what  God  is  ?     May  we  not  read, 

In  lines  of  living  light,  His  character, 

As  traced  in  all  His  works  ?    Do  not  the  Heavens 

Proclaim  His  glory  ?     Sun  and  Moon  and  Stars, 

Are  they  not  bright  with  radiance  caught  from 

Him? 

Does  not  each  dew-drop  sparkle  to  His  praise  ? 
And  is  not  tribute  paid  by  all  His  works  ? 
But  Sin  is  in  the  world.     And  countless  wrongs 
Repeat  themselves  each  day  ;  and  Innocence 
Goes  to  the  wall  and  weeps.    And  Vice  and  Crime 
Flaunt  it  unblushingly  before  the  Sun  ; 
And  the  blasphemer,  in  his  pride  of  place, 
Reviles  the  name  of  God ;  and  Want  and  Blood 
Cry  out  unceasingly ;  but  no  reply 
Comes  from  His  presence.     And  men  vainly  ask, 
Is  there  a  God  who  sees  and  hears  all  this  ? 


GOD'S    GREAT    DESIGN. 

And  doubts,  like  armed  men,  spring  at  the  throat 
Of  trust  in  Him ;  and  still,  there  is  no  voice 
Nor  any  that  gives  answer.     And  we  turn, 
To  scan  the  volume  of  His  works,  in  vain. 
We  read  no  answer  in  the  starry  sky  ? 
The  hills  are  silent ;  and  the  Ocean's  voice 
Forgets  its  speech.     For  Nature  has  no  skill, 
To  read  this  problem ;  and  proclaim  the  truth, 
That  underlies  these  evils.     It  has  lost 
The  thread  to  guide  us  through  this  labyrinth, 
Into  the  open  day ;  and  tells  us  nought, 
But  of  God's  Power  and  Wisdom.     And  we  ask 
In  vain,  if  He  is  Good  ?     Does  He  regard 
The  creatures  He  has  formed  ?     Does  He  observe 
The  actions  they  perform  ;  and  bring  the  test 
Of  law,  to  try  their  nature  ?     Does  He  put 
A  difference  between  them  ?  or  does  Vice 
Move  Him  the  same  as  Virtue  ?     Can  He  be, 
Assailed  by  suffering,  at  the  sight  of  that, 
Which  here,  makes  good  men  suffer  ?     Does  He 

hold 

One" uniform  experience;  or  admit 
The  ebb  and  flow  of  feelings,  such  as  swell 
Within  a  Father's  bosom,  when  he  sees 
A  son's  ingratitude.  ?     Alas  !  we  know 
Nothing  of  this,  from  what  His  works  can  teach  ! 
He  is,  we  know ;  and  that  we  ought  to  make 
His  Will  our  Law.     But  then,  what  is  His  will  ? 
Who  shall  instruct  us  here  ?     Who  show  the  way 


28  THI-:   MOKNIN<;   STAR. 

Of  access  to  His  presence  ?     May  we  come 
With  our  own  works ;  and  thus  expect  to  find 
Acceptance  with  Him?  Will  He  hear  our  prayers; 
And  in  our  darkness  show  us  of  His  light  ? 

XI. 

"  Athenians,"  —  said  the  foremost  man  of  Greece, 
Foremost  in  wisdom,  'mong  that  mighty  crowd 
Of  earnest  seekers  for  the  Good  and  True  — 
"  Athenians  !  you  must  wait  for  One  to  come, 
And  teach  you  what  to  do.     And  He  alone, 
Who  made  you  can  do  that."     So,  through  the 

time 

Of  his  great  darkness,  Man  had  felt  for  God, 
Scarce  knowing  what  he  needed.  Some  great  want, 
Not  apprehended,  weighed  upon  his  soul : 
Which  turned  to  seek  for  God,  from  the  same  cause 
That  plants  do  to  the  light.     An  inward  need 
Was  on  his  spirit;  and  he  blindly,  turned 
The  tendrils  of  his  powers,  in  eager  search, 
Around,  beneath,  above  ;  if  he  might  find 
The  One,  fit  Object, round  which  they  might  twine; 
And  twining  round  Him,  lift  himself  again 
Into  the  light.     And  who  can  say,  how  much, 
Those  earnest  seekers  of  the  Truth,  obtained 
By  means  we  know  not  ?     Who  can  tell  how  far 
The  light  of  God  shone  in  upon  them  ?     We 
Know  nothing  of  a  thousand  paths,  by  which, 


GOD'S    GREAT    DESIGN.  2Q 

God  can  gain  access  to  the  souls  of  men. 

Did  ever  any  seek  His  face  in  vain  ? 

Did  any  turn  to  Him  in  ignorance 

Of  how  He  should  be  sought ;  and  fail  to  find 

That  He  was  near  to  help  ?     His  Hand,  unseen, 

Has  opened  many  a  path,  which,  He  alone, 

Could  point  for  man  to  tread  ;  and  turned  the  light 

Of  His  own  truth  on  many  a  darkened  eye. 

And  thus  we  solve  the  problem,  which  the  lives 

Of  Heathen  sages  offer  to  our  thoughts ; 

Thus  find  the  source,  whence  those  of  far-off  times, 

Plato  and  Socrates,  and  kindred  souls, 

Obtained  the  light,  which  glimmered  on  their  path. 

Perhaps  they  knew  not  whence  its  gleamings  came  ? 

Alas  !  how  could  they  ?     Could  you  dream  what 

source 

The  morn's  gray  dawning  had  if  you  were  not 
Familiar  with  the  noon  ?     And  if  their  light 
Was  faint  and  cold  and  dim,  it  still  revealed 
Some  glimpses  of  the  Coming  One,  whose  work 
Is  to  give  light  to  all  men ;  and  whose  light. 
Wherever  found,  leads  only  to  Himself! 
But,  when  all  this  is  granted ;  it  remains 
That  Sin  has  wrought  a  ruin  so  complete, 
Throughout  Man's  nature,  that  the  sense  of  want, 
A  void  within,  remains  to  testify, 
He  is  not  what  he  was.  ("A  creature's  wants 
Define  his  character,  and  show  his  rank. 
And,  while  created  things  fill  up  the  need 


3O  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Of  all  the  creatures  round  him,  Man  alone, 
With  all  that  they  can  give,  looks  out  and  asks 
For  something  more  than  these.     He  feels   the 

thrill 

Of  kindred  with  Divinity ;  and  owns 
Desires  within,  which,  like  a  sense  of  wings, 
Prompt  him  to  rise  ;  but,  which,  alas  !  afford 
No  power  of  flight.     He  cannot  hope  to  scale 
The  height,  from  which  he  's  fallen ;  or  return 
To  his  true  sphere  again.     He  has  no  power 
To  make  the  broken  mirror  of  his  soul, 
Unite  its  shattered  parts ;  and  form  again, 
The  image  of  His  God  which  he  has  lost. 
That  work  is  God's.     He,  only,  can  repair 
The  ruins  of  the  Fall.     But  how  repair? 
If  worlds  had  been  destroyed,  He  could  renew. 
If  some  destructive  element  had  swept 
Orders  of  beings  into  nothingness  ; 
He  could  restore  them  with  a  word.     But  when, 
The  element  of  ruin  is  a  Will 
Self-poised,  and  acting  from  itself  alone ; 
A  will  that  chooses  its  own  pathway,  though 
It  leads  to  death ;  then,  the  restoring  power 
Must  find  its  place  within  the  souls  of  men. 
It  must  assert  itself,  as —  standing  back 
Of  all  the  processes  of  thought  —  it  yields 
To  the  sweet  force  of  some  constraining  love, 
Which  moulds  its  choice,  and  puts  its  impress  on 
Each  power  of  thought  and  action.  Therefore  God, 


GOD   S    GREAT    DESIGN.  3! 

To  be  this  power,  within  the  souls  of  men, 
Came  nigh  in  grace,  and  took  on  Him  our  form 
Our  nature  took,  that  men  might  look  and  see 
What  He  had  always  been  :  how  thought  and  felt 
About  His  creatures,  when  no  eye  could  scan 
The  secrets  of  His  nature.     How,  in  Him, 
The  tender,  deep  and  self-forgetful  love 
Of  Jesus,  always  dwelt.     How  in  His  heart, 
The  thought  of  His  Self-Sacrifice  had  place 
Before  all  other  thoughts.     And  how  with  this, 
Full  in  His  view,  He  calmly,  held  His  way 
Through  all  that  wondrous  Life,  up  to  the  Cross ; 
And  there  wrought  out  the  problem  of  His  love  ? 
This,  this  is  God !     Henceforth  we  see  and  know 
His  nature :  He  is  Love.     His  attributes 
Are  attributes  of  love.     The  Cross  of  Christ 
Unfolds  it  all ;  and  thus  makes  Him  the  power 
Of  that  renewal,  in  the  souls  of  men, 
Which  binds  them  fast,  in  loving  loyalty, 
Around  His  Throne,  their  Father  and  their  God  ! 


XII. 

And  thus  we  read  the  counsel  that  lay  back 
Of  all  Creation's  works ;  the  Great  Design 
For  which  the  Earth  was  made.     In  lines  of  light, 
We  trace  it  in  the  volume  of  the  Book ; 
And  own  the  purpose  worthy  of  the  God 
Whose  Thought  it  is.     Redemption  is  the  pole, 


32  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Round  which  Creation  is  to  crystallize 
In  joy  and  peace  forever.     Here,  we  see  ' 
God's  true  unfolding  of  Himself.     The  Cross, 
Is  yet,  to  be  acknowledged  as  the  first 
And  central  figure  of  the  Universe. 
Here  He  shines  truly  forth.     Here  He  tells  out 
The  secrets  of  His  nature.     He  is  Love : 
And  Love  is  all  embracing.     Everything 
That  marks  His  nature  has  its  place  in  this, 
And  is  a  portion  of  it.     Neither  Power, 
Nor  Truth,  nor  Justice,  nor  the  attribute, 
By  which  He  hates  all  sin,  expresses  what 
God  truly  is.     All  these  unite  in  Him ; 
But  He  is  more  than  they:  as  is  the  Light 
More  than  its  spectral  beams.  They  show,  indeed, 
Some  glories  of  His  nature.     But  the  Cross 
Unites  them  all ;  and  thus  becomes  the  point 
From  which  both  Men  and  Angels  shall  survey 
The  truth  about  Him ;  and  the  wondrous  tie, 
That  binds  His  creatures  to  Him.    To  this  Earth, 
Redeemed  and  purged  from  all  remains  of  sin, 
Dwellers  in  other  worlds  shall  flock  to  learn 
The  story  of  His  Love  :  and  here,  survey 
The  scene  of  its  great  wonders.     Bethlehem, 
And  Nazareth  ;  Calvary  and  the  Mount 
Of  His  Transfiguration  ;  and  the  Well 
Of  Jacob,  where  He  sat  wearied,  and  taught ; 
The  Garden,  and  the  Tomb  of  Joseph,  and 
The  Mount  whence  He  ascended  ;  and  on  which, 


GOD'S    GREAT    DESIGN.  r  33 

His  feet  shall  rest  again,  when  He  returns, 

To  smite  the  Man  of  Sin,  and  take  away 

Out  of  His  kingdom  all  things  that  offend  ; 

These,  and  their  kindred  subjects,  shall  be  made 

Themes  of  discourse  forever.     Here  they'll  say, 

His  infant  form  was  in  the  Manger,  laid. 

He  labored  here,  a  lowly  Carpenter : 

Here  He  was  tempted  ;  and  a  Crown  of  Thorns, 

Was  here  set  on  His  l^row  ;  and  here  the  Earth 

Sustained  His  Cross  ;  and  in  this  Tomb  He  lay, 

When  His  great  work  was  done ;  and  here  He  rose, 

Triumphant  from  the  Grave,  and  broke  the  power 

Of  Death  forevermore.     And  thus  through  all 

The  periods  of  the  Everlasting  Age, 

The  Story  of  Redemption  shall  be  found 

The  wonder  of  the  Universe.     And  Men 

And  dwellers  in  those  far-off  worlds  of  light, 

Shall  learn  in  this  —  the  Switzerland  of  worlds  — 

The  glory  of  the  Lord  :  and  think  again 

His  own  Great  Thought,  as  it  is  mirrored  forth 

In  His  unfolding  of  Himself  to  Man  ! 

The  Earth,  restored  to  its  first  purity, 

And  clothed  once  more  with  all  the  loveliness 

That  first  adorned  it,  shall  resume  again 

Its  place  in  the  vast  sisterhood  of  worlds  ; 

And  thus  illustrate,  throughout  endless  years, 

The  glory  of  the  perfect  work  of  Christ 

That  glory  shall  be  on  it,  as  a  crown, 

Forevermore  ;  and  as  the  ages  pass, 


34  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

It  shall  be  made — as  God  first  meant  it  should — 
The  dwelling-place  of  men,  who  shall  renew 
Their  generations  on  it ;  free  from  sin, 
And  in  His  love  secured  against  its  power. 
The  sunlight  of  His  smile  shall  be  its  light ; 
And  Want  and  Wretchedness  shall  be  no  more. 
The  curse  shall  disappear ;  and  all  the  ills 
That  speak  of  its  existence  shall  be  known 
As  records  of  the  Past :  fossil  remains 
Of  former  periods,  whose  disturbing  powers 
Are  laid  at  rest  forever.     Ignorance, 
And  Vice  and  Folly,  Crime  and  Wretchedness, 
Shall  have  a  place  no  more.     The  widow's  tears ; 
The  orphan's  cry ;  the  friendless  one's  complaint ; 
The  oppressor's  wrong;  shall  all  have  passed  away, 
As  troubled  dreams  before  the  waking  hour ; 
And  Righteousness  and  Peace,  with  their  sweet 

smile, 

Shall  chase  away  the  darkness  of  the  Past. 
And  Earth  shall  yield  her  fruits  without  restraint ; 
And  pour  her  full  returns  into  the  lap 
Of  men  that  own  them,  as  a  Father's  gift, 
And  praise  Him  for  His  goodness.  There  shall  be 
No  discord  in  the  harmony  that  rolls 
Its  perfect  song  throughout  Creation's  works. 
Through  all  the  worlds,  its  rising  notes  shall  swell ; 
Now  high,  now  low  ;  now  ringing  loud  and  clear, 
To  the  grand  key-note  of  Redeeming  Love. 
The  Name  of  Jesus  shall  be  everywhere, 


GOD'S    GREAT     DESIGN.  35 

The  Name  above  all  names  ;  and  in  its  power, 

All  creatures  shall  be  blessed  forevermore.  ^ 

The  breeze  shall  speak  it  softly ;  and  the  stars, 

As  they  go  forth,  upon  the  silent  march, 

Of  their  unending  course,  shall  proclaim 

Its  glory  and  its  greatness.     Day  to  day, 

Shall  tell  of  its  renown  ;  and  as  the  Night 

Puts  on  the  splendor  of  its  glittering  crown, 

It  shall  tell  o'er  the  story  of  that  Name, 

And  whisper  of  its  sweetness.    Worlds  on  worlds 

Shall  add  their  voices  ;  and  the  countless  ranks 

Of  beings  that  inhabit  them,  shall  swell 

The  anthems  of  His  praises,  evermore. 

O  !  't  is  not  the  full  history  of  Earth, 

That  we  record,  through  these  six  thousand  years 

Of  sin  upon  its  surface.     They  are  but 

An  eddy  in  its  stream,  that  yet  shall  flow, 

Broad'ning  and  deep'ning  through  unending  years, 

Of  blessedness  and  joy ;  an  episode 

In  the  outworking  of  that  wondrous  Plan, 

That  is  to  bound  its  destiny.  (^And  when 

The  cycle  of  Redemption  is  complete 

It  shall  be  found,  that  all  the  ills  of  sin, 

Are  but  to  be  remembered,  as  a  drop 

Lost  in  the  ocean  of  His  boundless  Love ! 

XIII. 

Creation,  thus,  bears  witness  to  some  end, 
Greater  than  it,  that  calls  for  it  to  be : 


36  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Some  nobler  reason,  than  material  things 

In  all  their  splendor  give.     And  what  could  be 

A  reason  so  exalted,  as  the  one 

That  underlies  Creation  ;  and  secures 

God's  Revelation  of  Himself  to  Man  ? 

Sin  shows  us  God,  as  clouds  reveal  the  light. 

And  through  its  darkness,  He  moves  on  in  grace  ; 

And  from  its  ruin  makes  His  grand  display 

Of  the  eternal  purpose  of  His  love. 

And  seeing  what  would  be  the  dread  result, 

When  Man  had  tried — ^as  try  he  surely  would— 

The  experiment  of  Sin,  selected  this, 

Least  of  the  worlds,  to  be  the  Theatre, 

Where  it  should  work  its  dread  conclusions  out. 

Here  it  should  show  its  nature ;  here  display 

Its  full  capacity  of  harm :  and  here, 

He  would,  through  Christ,  bring  glory  out  of  shame ; 

Life  out  of  Death ;  safety  from  ruin ;  and 

Unite  all  ranks  of  the  whole  family 

In  Heaven  and  Earth,  in  loving  loyalty, 

To  the  Almighty  Throne ;  and  be  Himself 

The  Source  of  all  their  blessedness  ;  the  crown 

Of  Life  and  Glory,  through  the  works  of  God ! 

All  is  in  Christ;  centred  in  Him,  alone, 

The  Manifesting  God !     In  Him  the  Light 

Of  this  Great  Thought  was  shrouded  from  the  first ; 

Hidden  in  Him  alone ;  and  thence  the  rays, 

Of  its  great  glory  streaming,  bear  His  Name 

To  the  remotest  worlds.     All  is  in  Him 


GOD'S    GREAT    DESIGN.  37 

As  Light  is  in  the  Sun.  (  Behold  the  Scheme  ! 
God's  Revelation  of  Himself  to  Man, 
And  thus,  to  all  His  creatures ;  that  in  Him, 
They  may  be  saved  from  Sin's  destructive  power! 
O  !  for  the  power  to  speak  this  wondrous  Plan, 
Where  all  may  hear  its  wonders !     Tell  it  out, 
Ye  dwellers  in  the  nations !  ,  Let  the  tongue, 
Listless  and  dull,  grow  eloquent  in  this ! 
Speak  of  its  greatness,  as  a  Thought  of  God, 
Before  all  other  thoughts  ;  and  leading  up 
To  all  the  glory  that  His  works  display ! 
Sing  of  it,  O  ye  dwellers  near  the  throne  ! 
And  in  those  far-off  worlds,  that  circle  round 
Heaven's  limitless  expanse  !     Make  it  the  theme 
Of  your  rejoicing,  as  the  ages  pass : 
And  swell  the  chorus  of  a  world,  redeemed 
By  the  same  act  that  makes  all  creatures  know, 
And  stand  secure,  in  Jesus  Christ  the  Lord ! 

4 


CANTO  SECOND. 


THE   UNFOLDING. 


39 


CANTO   II. 

ARGUMENT  :  Invocation.  Earth  at  first  the  abode  of  other  beings  than 
Man.  Reduced  to  Chaos.  God's  Spirit,  brooding  over  the  waters. 
Present  order  of  things.  Beauty  of.  Creation  of  Man.  His  distin- 
guishing feature.  Loneliness  of.  Creation  of  Eve.  Adam  and  Eve 
in  the  Garden.  Man  in  innocence.  Innocen'ce,  not  holiness.  Differ- 
ence between  ?  True  Freedom,  what  ?  Law,  what  ?  Man's  accord- 
ance with  Law.  Must  be  tested.  No  character  without  a  test.  Seem- 
ing insignificance  of  real  test.  Adam's  reasoning  on.  Choice.  Result 
of.  Good  and  Evil.  Conscience.  Sense  of  shame :  fear :  guilt. 
Hiding  from  God.  Sentence  on :  Banishment  from  Eden.  The  First 
Promise.  Effects  of  Sin  on  the  animal  Creation.  Development  of  Sin. 
Cain  and  Abel.  The  Flood.  Noah  going  out  of  the  Ark.  Rainbow. 
Covenant.  Sin  spreading.  Babel.  Dispersion  of  Man. 

God  did  not  leave  Man  thus.  Designed  to  bring  him  back  again.  How  ? 
What  God  must  be  seen  to  be,  before  it  can  be  done  ?  Call  of  Abra- 
ham; greatness  of  results.  One  race  set  aside  as  witnesses  for  God. 
Israel  in  Egypt :  David  :  Songs  of:  Progress  in  development  of  First 
Promise:  Dispersion:  Return:  Man's  Thoughts  in  History:  God's; 
Testimony  of  Prophets  to  the  Christ :  Word  Picture  of:  Angels'  an- 
nouncement of  birth:  Scene  at  Cradle:  Mary,  feeling  of:  Rejoicing. 
Wonder  of  Incarnation ;  Childhood  of  Jesus ;  agencies  at  work  in ; 
Spirit's  teaching.  Public  ministry  of  Jesus :  Character  of :  Meditations 
before  the  Cross. 

40 


THE  UNFOLDING. 

I. 

O  !  THOU  Eternal  One  !  who  art  of  Power 
And  Life  and  Light,  the  Uncreated  Source  ; 
From  Whom  are  all  things ;  in  Whom  all  things 

stand ; 

And  in  Whose  light,  alone,  we  see  the  light  ; 
Be  near  me  while  I  write !     My  spirit  fill 
With  Thine  own  Spirit.     Let  its  radiance  spread 
Through  all  my  powers,  as  through  the  dew-drop 

shines 

The  brightness  of  the  Sun  ;  that  I  may  speak 
Words,  not  unworthy  of  the  Glorious  Thought, 
That  moved  within  Thee,  ere  Creation  was. 

II. 

Far  back  through  ages,  that  we  know  not  of, 
Earth  had  its  being,  as  the  fit  abode 
Of  other  tribes,  with  different  powers  endowed, 
From  those  that  mark  our  race.     But,  from  some 

cause, 

4*  41 


42  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

—  We  know  not  of  what  nature  —  and  by  means, 
As  yet  concealed  from  us,  those  tribes  became 
Outcasts  from  their  inheritance ;  on  which, 
The  hand  of  overthrow  came  sternly  down ; 
And  Earth,  reduced  to  a  chaotic  state,* 
Formless  and  void,  lay  waiting  for  the  touch 
Of  the  Life-giving  Spirit,  as  it  moved, 
In  brooding  patience  o'er  the  sluggish  deep. 
But,  who  may  paint  the  Spirit's  brooding  work  ? 
The  silent  going-forth  of  Power  divine  : 
The  gradual  working  of  Omnipotence  : 
By  which  the  strong  foundations  of  the  Earth, 
Bearing  the  records  of  uncounted  years, 
Were  wrought  out  from  the  ruins  of  the  past ! 
How  grand  a  thought  it  is !     How  much  it  tells, 
That  Restoration  from  a  ruined  state, 
Is  nobler  than  Creation  !     For  a  word 
Accomplished  that.    God  spake,  and  it  was  done. 

Does  this  seem  fanciful?  Perhaps  it  is  less  so  than  it 
appears.  In  his  admirable  Commentary  on  Genesis,  Dr.  Mur- 
phy, Professor  of  Hebrew,  Belfast,  translates  as  follows  : 

"In  the  beginning,  God  had  created  the  heavens  and  the 
earth. 

"And  the  earth  had  become  a  waste  and  a  void :  (Heb., 
tohn  vavohn:~)  and  darkness  was  upon  the  face  of  the  deep." 

Now,  this  seems  to  intimate,  clearly  enough,  that  it  was 
not  created  "a  waste  and  a  void."  It  became  so  afterwards. 
So,  too,  we  read  in  Is.  xlv.  18  —  "God  Himself,  that  formed 
the  earth  and  made  it :  He  hath  established  it :  He  created 
it,  not  in  vain1'  — i.  e.,  not  tohn  :  not  a  waste :  not  "with- 
out form." 


THE    UNFOLDING.  43 

But,  when  a  ruined  world  awaits  the  touch 

Of  Restoration,  He  must  work  within 

The  Law  of  slow  development,  as  broods 

The  Bird  upon  her  nest.     With  patient  care, 

His  Spirit  brooded  o'er  the  shapeless  mass 

That  lay  beneath  the  waters.     Into  them, 

New  principles  must  enter ;  and  new  laws 

Be  wrought  within  them  ;  that  new  Life  may  come 

And  find  a  fitting  home.     And  who  can  tell 

The  secrets  of  that  brooding  ?     Who  can  say 

How  long  it  was  continued ;  or  decide, 

How  much  of  all  that  makes  the  mystery 

Of  Earth's  primeval  strata,  may  be  traced 

As  its  direct  results  ?     We  see,  indeed, 

That  here  is  space  and  margin  for  the  lapse 

Of  untold  ages,  in  whose  silent  course, 

The  preparation  for  the  coming  birth 

Of  the  new  world,  might  be  securely  made. 

But  more  we  know  not ;  more  we  need  not  know. 

Then,  when  Earth's  rock-ribbed  storehouse  thus 

was  filled 

With  its  uncounted  treasures,  for  the  use 
Of  coming  generations,  we  behold 
Creative  power,  in  unconcealed  display ! 
Then,  from  the  womb  of  darkness,  Earth  was  born. 
Let  Light  be,  said  Jehovah,  and  Light  was  : 
And  by  degrees,  it  took  its  garniture 
Of  grace  and  beauty,  till  it  stood,  disclosed 
Perfect  in  loveliness  :  and  God  looked  on 


44  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

And  called  it  very  good  —  the  fitting  sphere, 
For  the  great  purpose,  which  He  had  in  view  ! 


III. 

Call  up  the  scene  before  you.     See,  what  lines 
Of  perfect  beauty,  mark  it !     Every  part 
Is  instinct  with  the  presence  of  its  God  ; 
And  yields  the  worship  of  His  own  great  thoughts, 
In  them  incorporate.     The  Sun,  by  day, 
Tells  of  His  glory :  and  the  Moon  and  Stars, 
With  gentler  radiance,  in  His  brightness  shine, 
All  things  are  tuned  to  praise.    The  birds  pour  forth 
Their  joyous  songs,  which  to  His  ear,  assume 
A  meaning  that  we  know  not.     Every  flower 
Presents  the.  incense  of  its  inner  life, 
Breathed  out  in  perfumed  worship  ;  and  the  trees 
Bow  down  their  heads,  and  all  their  branches  wave 
To  the  soft  whispers  of  the  evening  breeze. 
But  Man,  as  yet  appears  not.     See  !  He  lies 
In  glorious  beauty  on  the  new-formed  Earth, 
Just  fashioned  in  the  image  of  his  God. 
His  form  was  perfect :  but  it  had  no  life. 
His  beauty  faultless  ;  but  no  living  soul 
Breathed  into  it  expression.     There  he  lay, 
A  fleshly  statue,  moulded  to  the  Form, 
Which  the  Redeeming  God  was  to  put  on, 
When  He  became  incarnate.     He  was  yet, 
Only  a  statue  ;  when  Jehovah  came, 


THE    UNFOLDING.  45 

And  breathed  into  his  frame,  the  breath  of  lives  ; 
And  Man  arose,  possessing  the  same  life 
As  other  creatures  round  him  ;  and  a  Life 
Kindred  with  God's,  by  which  he  has  the  power 
To  hold  communion  with  Him  ;  to  perceive 
The  glory  of  His  thoughts  ;  to  comprehend 
His  Nature  ;  and  in  harmony  complete, 
Respond  to  all  His  will :  to  see  the  truth, 
Just  as  the  eye  sees  light,  as  made  for  it, 
And  answering  to  its  presence,  everywhere. 
This  is  Man's  chief  distinction.     Here  he  stands, 
The  Crowning  Glory  of  the  works  of  God. 

IV. 

And  thus,  Man  stood,  a  power  upon  the  Earth ; 

Thus  absolute  Dominion  was  the  gift 

Which  God  conferred  upon  him  ;  sovereignty 

O'er  all  His  works,  below ;  authority, 

As  fully  owned  as  it  was  gently  urged. 

The  reins  of  government  were  in  his  hand ; 

And  all  things  owed  obedience  to  his  will. 

But  he  was  there  alone.     Of  all  the  tribes 

That  moved  around  him,  there  was  found  not  one, 

To  offer  him  companionship,  or  be 

A  helpmeet  for  him.     None  to  take  away 

The  sense  of  solitude,  within  his  soul, 

With  the  sweet  ministry  of  love :  or  yield 

Response  to  his  desires,  and  enter  in 


46  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

To  his  communings  with  his  secret  self. 

And  answering  to  his  needs,  Jehovah  said, 

It  is  not  good  the  Man  should  be  alone, 

I  '11  make  an  helpmeet  for  him.     And  at  once, 

A  deep  sleep  fell  upon  him.     On  the  ground 

He  lay  insensible  ;  yet  seemed  to  see 

The  wondrous  process,  while  the  hand  of  God 

Takes  from  his  side,  a  rib,  and  closes  up 

With  flesh  instead  thereof;  and  fashions  it 

Into  a  form  of  faultless  beauty,  like 

Himself  indeed,  but  more  divinely  fair. 

And  Adam,  waking  from  his  sleep,  beheld 

This  wondrous  vision,  by  the  Hand  divine, 

Brought  to  his  side ;  henceforth  to  live  and  move 

In  his  companionship,  a  second  self; 

His  Bride,  his  heart's  delight ;  the  only  one 

In  all  the  universe,  to  make  response 

To  thoughts  and  feelings,  moving  in  his  soul : 

To  share  his  joys ;  and,  by  the  sharing,  fill ! 

O  !  the  deep  rapture  of  his  waking  hour, 

When  Adam  thus,  received  her ;( and  beheld 

An  answering  joy  awakened  in  her  soul !  ] 

In  what  contrasted  loveliness  they  move, 

In  converse  sweet,  through  Eden's  flowery  groves ! 

Majestic  beauty  throned  his  ample  brow ; 

And  contemplation  held  her  royal  court, 

With  her  attendant  graces.     From  his  eye, 

A  living  soul  looked  forth,  that  seemed  to  claim 

Kindred  with  God,  and  in  His  right,  to  be 


THE    UNFOLDING.  47 

Exalted  head  o'er  all  His  works  on  Earth. 
Grace  reigned  in  every  motion,  and  controlled 
The  sense  of  power,  beneath  its  gentler  sway. 
She  seemed  himself;  though  fashioned  in  a  mould 
Of  fairer  grace  than  he  ;  and  what  appeared 
Noblest  and  best  in  him,  was  tempered,  with 
A  sweeter  grace  in  her.     The  very  air 
That  floated  round  her  person,  caught  the  glow 
Of  beauty  from  her  presence ;  and  became 
Bright  with  her  radiance.     Was  she  not  designed 
His  complemental  self?     For  Man  was  formed, 
A  duplicate  in  being :  and,  each  sex 
Yields  equal  elements  to  make  the  sum 
Of  human  nature,  in  the  equipoise 
Of  its  full  powers,  (Equal,  not  alike; 
And  not  inferior,  as  some  falsely  teach.\ 
The  gentler  graces  that  attracted  her 
To  all  things  sweet  and  lovely,  were  not  less 
Important  in  their  sphere,  than  was  the  strong 
And  bolder  outline  of  the  character 
God  gave  to  him.     Her  beauty  was  the  crown 
Of  his  perfections ;  and  his  manly  strength 
The  pillar  of  her  beauty ;  each  alike, 
Finding  completeness  in  the  other's  gifts. 
And,  as  they  moved  through  Eden,  hand  in  hand, 
In  Love's  sweet  intercourse  ;  or  plucked  the  fruits 
That  hung,  in  sweet  luxuriance  on  the  boughs ; 
Or  trained  the  vines,  that  waved  their  festooned 
sweets, 


48  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

To  greet  them  as  they  passed  ;  or  breathed  the  soft 
And  balmy  perfume  of  unnumbered  flowers ; 
All  things  told  out  their  welcome.    In  the  groves, 
Birds  warbled  forth  their  greeting  ;  and  with  song, 
And  frolic  motion  testified  their  joy. 
In  low-toned  cadences,  the  whispering  breeze 
Murmured  a  quiet  joy ;  while  from  afar, 
The  sound  of  falling  waters,  lulled  the  ear 
With  strains  of  silvery  music.     The  proud  steed, 
Neighed  forth  his  welcome ;  while  the  fiercer  tribes, 
That  Man's  revolt  has  armed  against  himself, 
Joined  in  the  gambols  of  the  playful  kid. 
The  lion  sported  with  the  lamb ;  or  walked 
In  stately  motion  by  their  side,  as  Eve 
Laid  a  caressing  hand  upon  his  head. 
All  Nature  spoke  its  gladness ;  and  each  tribe 
Made  contribution  to  the  general  joy.  li 

V. 

Thus,  Man  was  made  in  perfect  innocence. 
In  innocence,  not  holiness  :  for  that 
Grows  out  of  spirit-beauty,  which  selects 
Good  for  itself  alone  ;  and  rests  therein, 
Much  as  the  magnet  makes  the  needle  rest. 
It  is  the  inflorescence  of  the  soul ; 
When,  choosing  Right  and  Duty  for  its  own, 
It  opens  in  the  sunlight  of  the  Truth, 
And  blossoms  into  Liberty  and  Love. 


THE    UNFOLDING.  49 

But  Man  was  made  in  innocence,  and  might 

Have  stood,  as  he  was  made ;  or  carried  up 

The  process  of  development,  until 

His  choice  was  fixed,  against  all  seeming  good, 

To  be  obedient  to  the  Law  of  Truth ; 

And  grow,  in  harmony  with  its  demands, 

Up  to  his  highest  excellence.     He  had 

Full  power  to  do  so,  if  he  chose.     To  act, 

Against  all  motive,  coming  from  without, 

Or  else,  refrain  from  acting.     He  was  free, 

With  that  true  freedom,  whose  distinction,  is 

Conformity  to  Law.     And  Law  is  naught, 

But  the  unchanging  principle  of  Right, 

Which  God  finds  in  Himself.     The  harmony 

Which  its  first  utterance  makes  through  all  His 

works. 

It  is  the  Shadow  of  the  Unseen  God 
Projected  o'er  His  creatures  ;  and  they  live 
In  peace  and  concord,  as  they  live  in  it. 
All  things  that  are ;  the  near  and  the  remote ; 
Feel  its  controlling  power.     The  very  least 
As  not  below  it ;  and  the  greatest,  as 
Made  great  by  it,  alone.     The  violet 
Thus  holds  communion  with  the  far-off  Sun ; 
And  yields  its  beauty  and  its  fragrance,  back 
As  tribute  to  its  power.     So  Man  was  meant, 
To  yield  his  answer  to  the  Law,  which  sets 
God  in  the  centre  of  created  things ; 
And  builds  up  human  character,  in  full 

5  D 


5O  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Accordance  with  His  will.     He  had  the  power, 

Within  himself,  thus  to  decide  for  God, 

As  flowers  might  for  the  sunbeam,  if  there  were 

A  reasoning  soul  within  them,  which  could  say, 

I  love  the  sunbeam.     It  accords  with  all 

The  promptings  of  my  nature.     Therefore,  I 

Open  my  bosom  to  its  genial  ray ; 

And  breathe  forth  all  my  sweetness  to  its  touch, 

And  live  in  it  alone.     He  might  remain 

In  all  the  glory  of  his  sinless  state ; 

Choosing  it  as  his  own.     Or,  he  might  break 

The  tie  which  bound  him  to  his  God  ;  and  go, 

Careering  downwards,  in  an  unknown  path, 

To  meet  some  unknown  end.    He  has  the  power. 

And  till  he  meets  the  question,  and  decides 

Of  his  free  choice  for  good ;  and  fixes  thus, 

His  state  as  under  Law,  his  innocence 

Is  a  negation  only.     Beautiful ; 

But  with  no  claim  of  moral  worth ;  no  tint 

Of  spirit-beauty,  which  selects  the  Good, 

Because  it  loves  it  more  tha;n  all  things  else. 


VI. 

Man  therefore  must  be  tested.     Will  he  keep 

His  loyalty  to  God  ;  or  step  aside, 

To  a  forbidden  path,  with  no  excuse, 

But  that  it  was  forbidden  ?     There  must  be, 

A  test  of  character,  that  shall  decide. 


THE    UNFOLDING.  51 

And  graciously,  this  test  was  made  to  take 

Such  slight  proportions,  that  it  seemed  to  speak 

A  wantonness  of  spirit,  in  the  act 

Of  disregarding  it ;  while  yet,  it  placed 

The  touchstone,  to  the  metal  of  his  will, 

Disclosing  what  it  was.     "  Of  every  tree, 

Within  the  Garden  thou  may'st  freely  eat, 

Excepting  only  one.     Of  this  alone, 

Thou  shalt  not  take.     It  was  not  made  for  food ; 

And  will  not  serve  thy  wants.     Its  fruit  affords 

Knowledge  of  Good  and  Evil ;  and  if  thou, 

Presume  to  eat  thereof,  its  penalty 

Shall  be  enforced  against  thee.     Thou  shalt  die." 

So  ran  the  First  Command.     And  could  a  test 

Less  burdensome  be  given?     Was  it  much, 

That  thus,  one  Tree  should  lift  its  fruitful  boughs, 

In  test  of  Man's  obedience  ?     Was  there  not, 

Eden's  unbounded  fulness,  to  supply 

His  every  want?     With  all  that  could  delight 

The  longing  eye,  or  lusciously,  repay 

The  most  exacting  taste  ;  could  Man  make  out 

A  case  against  his  God,  who  thus,  denied 

One  object  to  his  touch  ?     But  here,  began 

Suggestion  of  the  evil  —  made,  no  doubt, 

In  seeming  innocence  ;  but  made  no  less, 

By  One  who  knew  the  evil :  and  could  touch 

Its  secret  springs  of  question  and  desire 

That  lead  to  outward  action.    What  means  this  ? 

Why  may  it  not  be  touched  ?  Why  should  it  spread 


52  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Its  fruit  before  us  if  it  speaks  alone, 

Of  a  forbidden  act  ?     Besides,  the  Tree 

Is  one  to  be  desired  to  make  one  wise : 

Speaks  sweetly  to  the  eye :  and  to  the  taste 

Doubtless  makes  rich  return.     And  if  it  brings 

Knowledge  of  Good  and  Evil ;  is  not  that 

Fruit  fit  for  gods  to  feed  on  ?     And,  are  we 

Alone  to  be  denied  it?     Is  it  kind, 

In  the  Creator,  thus,  to  shut  us  out 

From  knowledge  of  this  mystery  ?     May  we  not 

Eat  of  its  fruit  and  live ;  although  we  know 

The  Good  and  Evil,  too?     Besides,  it  bears 

No  marks  of  aught  so  terrible.     Does  Death 

Lurk  in  a  thing  so  fair  ?     But  what  is  Death  ? 

Some  fearful  evil,  clearly :  since  it  stands, 

Fencing  the  Tree  about,  as  penalty. 

But  can  man  die  ?     Can  this  mysterious  thing, 

Gain  access  to  a  being,  formed  as  we, 

In  God's  own  image  ?     Does  not  God  know  all  ? 

And  if  He  dies  not,  may  not  we  attain 

To  knowledge  such  as  His  ;  and  feel  the  thrill 

Of  larger  measures  of  Divinity  ? 

But  whether  this  or  not ;  are  we  not  free 

To  follow  our  own  choice  ?    To  take  what  course, 

May  seem  to  us  the  best ;  without  the  fear 

Of  Law  or  Penalty  to  sway  our  choice  ? 


THE    UNFOLDING.  53 

VII. 

Thus  reasoned  our  First  Parents ;  and  at  once, 

The  outward  act  betrayed  the  inward  thought. 

They  took  and  ate !     Eve  first,  as  one  beguiled 

By  subtle  reasoning  and  delusive  hopes 

Of  something  loftier  than  her  present  lot, 

Took  the  forbidden  fruit ;  and  in  the  glow 

Of  its  first  inspiration,  sought  to  win 

Her  husband  to  her  side.     She  was  deceived  ! 

But  he,  with  knowledge  of  her  act  of  sin, 

Joined  in  the  act  — ^choosing  a  creature's  love, 

Before  the  loyalty  he  owed  his  GodO 

They  took  and  ate.     And  lo !  at  once  they  found 

The  meaning  of  the  penalty.     They  knew 

The  Evil  and  the  Good ;  but  found,  alas  ! 

The  Good  departed,  while  the  Evil  was 

Their  own,  forevermore.     The  unseen  tie, 

Whose  strong  attraction  bound  them  to  their  God, 

And  to  all  beautiful  and  lovely  things, 

At  once  was  severed.     Deep  within,  they  feel 

The  spirit-wound :  for  Faith  in  God  was  gone  ; 

And  Love  gave  place  to  Fear ;  and  filial  trust 

Yielded  to  sudden  dread.     The  blush  of  shame 

Burned  on  their  cheeks,  when  they  looked  on  and 

saw 

Their  robe  of  innocency,  torn  away ; 
And  all  the  glory  of  their  first  estate 
Laid  in  the  dust  forever.  There  was  now 

5* 


54  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

A  strange,  unwonted  sense  of  coming  ill ; 

A  deep  unrest ;  a  fluttering  sense  of  fear  ; 

And  Paradise  was  Paradise,  no  more. 

Its  glorious  beauties  all  remained  the  same  ; 

The  trees  were  still  as  grand;  the  flowers  as  sweet; 

The  birds  as  beautiful :  the  air  as  full 

Of  melody  and  fragrance  as  before. 

But  they  perceived  it  not.     The  sense  of  guilt 

Was  in  their  heart ;  coming  to  them,  in  dreams  ; 

And  peopling  e'en  the  silence  of  the  night ; 

With  forms  of  evil,  never  known  till  then. 

It  started  into  shape  before  their  eyes  ; 

Made  dumb  things  speak  ;  and,  in  the  thought  of 

God, 

Shook  them  with  strange  commotion,  clothing'Him, 
With  all  the  human  elements  of  wrath, 
For  their  transgression.     And  they  slunk  away 
To  seek  a  shelter  'mid  the  friendly  trees. 
All  things  accused  them.     Nature  felt  the  stroke 
Of  Man's  rebellion  ;  and  in  all  her  powers, 
Arrayed  herself  to  visit  the  deep  wrong 
Of  Sin  upon  his  head.     Its  sudden  jar, 
Made  discord  in  her  music  —  bringing  forth 
Harsh  notes  of  sorrow,  suffering. and  pain, 
Where  God  intended  peace.     And  still,  she  tells 
The  story  of  his  guilt,  which  finds  a  voice 
In  all  her  creatures.     Are  they  not  involved 
In  his  transgression  ?     Do  not  its  results 
Subject  them  to  a  servitude,  whose  chains 


THE    UNFOLDING.  55 

They  never,  else  had  borne  ?  Are  they  not  made, 

Subject  to  vanity  ?     And  as  they  turn 

To  Man,  their  master,  with  imploring  eyes, 

It  is  as  if  they  charged  him  with  the  wrongs, 

They  suffer  at  his  hands  !     And  who  can  feel 

That  he  is  guiltless  here  ?     Or,  feeling  this, 

Restrain  his  exultation  at  the  thought 

Of  the  mute  prophecy,  in  which  she  waits 

The  Coming  Day,  which  shall  at  last,  restore 

Her  lost  inheritance  —  lost  not  by  her  — 

And,  with  the  glorious  liberty,  decreed 

The  sons  of  God,  shall  once  more,  make  her  free  ? 

VIII. 

The  brightness  of  the  day  had  lost  itself, 

In  the  delicious  coolness  of  the  eve ; 

When  God  came  down  to  judgment.    Yesterday, 

They  would  have  hailed  His  coming.    Now,  alas ! 

They  stand,  abashed  before  Him  ;  for  the  sense 

Of  guilt  within  the  soul,  interprets  God, 

According  to  its  nature ;  and  they  seek 

A  shelter  from  His  presence,  though  He  comes 

To  give  them  hope  in  ruin ;  and  to  twine 

The  words  of  promise  round  their  fallen  state ! 

Adam  !  where  art  thou  ?  said  the  Voice  Divine. 

I  was  afraid,  he  answered,  when  I  saw 

That  I  was  naked ;  and  I  hid  myself. 

Who  told  thee,  thou  wast  naked  ?  Hast  thou  done, 


$6  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

What  I  commanded  thee,  thou  should'st  not  do  ? 
Did  I  not  tell  thee,  Death  was  in  that  fruit? 
And  now  its  doom  is  on  thee,  evermore  ! 
For  dying,  thou  shalt  die.     The  earth  shall  yield, 
Unwillingly,  its  produce  to  thy  toil. 
And  thorns  and  thistles  shall  proclaim  the  curse 
Thy  sin  has  brought  upon  it.     All  thy  days, 
Thou  shalt  in  sorrow  eat  thereof,  till  thou 
Return  to  dust  again.     For  out  of  it, 
Thou  at  the  first  wast  taken.     Dust  thou  art, 
And  unto  dust  shalt  thou  return  !     But  still, 
Not  unrelieved  thy  sentence  shall  be  found  ; 
The  Woman's  Seed  shall  bruise  the  Serpent's  head. 
And  out  of  this  great  evil  shall  be  brought 
Redemption  from  all  evil.     But  for  thee, 
Eden  is  home  no  more.     Thou  must  go  forth 
To  till  the  ground,  and  subjugate  the  earth, 
Deprived  of  her  first  fruitfulness  by  thee  ! 
And  from  its  beauteous  borders  they  went  forth, 
With  slow,  reluctant,  and  despairing  steps. 
For,  should  they  see  their  Eden-Home,  no  more  ? 
No  more,  for  them,  its  glorious  flowers  should 

bloom, 

Or  balmy  air  delight !     Its  luscious  fruits, 
Whose  rich  profusion  tempted  every  sense, 
Should  yield  their  stores  no  more  ;  but  rugged  toil 
Win  its  unwilling  produce  from  the  Earth. 
And  as  they  linger  near  its  sacred  bounds, 
Behold  !  the  Cherubim  commenced  their  watch 


THE    UNFOLDING.  57 

About  its  borders  ;  and  the  flaming  sword 

Kept  fiery  guard  around  the  Tree  of  Life  ! 

Yet,  not  unmixed  with  mercy  was  the  stroke 

Of  judgment  which  o'ertook  them.     For  the  fruit 

Of  Life's  fair  Tree  had  power  to  give  them  life. 

Life,  in  the  flesh  :  Life,  while  revolving  years 

Added  their  burden  to  the  weary  frame 

Longing  for  rest,  but  sharing  evermore, 

An  immortality  of  dying  life  ! 

Thus  they  went  forth  from  Eden  ;  knowing  not 

The  future  that  awaited  them  ;  alone, 

And  unprotected,  save  as  girt  about, 

With  the  invisible,  but  strong  defence, 

With  which  their  higher  nature  hedged  them  round. 

And  much  they  needed  it:  for  Nature's  tribes 

Ceased  from  their  gentle  ministry  to  Man, 

When  he  forgot  allegiance  to  his  God  ! 

That  was  the  tie  that  bound  them.     His  revolt 

Snapped  it  asunder  ;  and  to  active  life, 

Summoned  ferocious  passions,  which  had  else, 

Slumbered  in  quietude.     The  Lion  leaped 

Upon  the  harmless  kid,  that  but  of  late, 

Had  gambolled  with  him,  on  the  flowery  mead. 

The  timid  dove  fled,  trembling  from  the  hawk, 

o  " 

That  fiercely  struck  it  down.  The  lamb,  that  cropped 
The  flowery  herbage,  trembled  with  a  sense 
Of  fear,  unknown  before,  as  stealthily, 
The  tiger  crouched  to  leap  upon  his  prey. 
All  things  attested  the  new  element 


58  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Of  Evil  in  the  world :  and  showed  that  $>in, 
Breaking  the  tie  that  bound  Man  to  his  God, 
Destroyed  the  harmony  of  all  His  works ! 


IX. 

And  thus  they  stood  outside  of  Paradise, 
There  to  return  no  more.     They  could  not  know 
What  glorious  germs  of  truth  were  folded  up, 
In  the  First  Promise  :  as  some  lovely  flower 
Is  folded  in  its  seed.     They  knew,  indeed, 
That  God  had  interposed.     But  in  what  form, 
That  interference  would  reveal  itself: 
What  was  the  meaning  of  the  Woman's  Seed  ; 
The  bruising  of  the  Serpent's  head  ;  or  how 
Their  Maker  would  accomplish  this  ;  was  yet 
Involved  in  darkness.     They  must  learn  to  wait. 
And  thus  time  passed  ;  and  as  the  race  increased, 
Sin  varied  its  disclosures,  till  the  Earth 
Opened  its  mouth,  and  drank  in  Abel's  blood, 
Shed  by  his  brother's  hand.    And  Time  passed  on, 
And  wickedness  increased  ;  and  men  became 
Corrupt  upon  the  Earth  ;  and  in  the  course 
Of  their  three  times  three  hundred  years,  attained 
Gigantic  stature  in  their  wickedness. 
Then  judgment  came  upon  them ;  and  the  Flood 
Swept  them  away ;  and  o'er  its  troubled  waves, 
The  Ark  rode  peacefully,  and  bore  within, 
The  seed  of  a  new  race,  which  should  possess 


THE    UNFOLDING.  59 

The  Earth  again,  when  from  its  watery  grave, 

It  should  arise,  to  run  once  more,  the  course 

Of  God's  forbearance  with  the  sin  of  Man  ! 

Slowly  and  reverently,  at  God's  command, 

Noah  went  forth,  to  repossess  the  Earth. 

Silence  was  all  around  ;  for  of  the  vast 

And  teeming  multitudes,  that  lately  thronged 

Its  busy  surface,  he  alone  remained ! 

He  and  his  family :  and  in  the  hush 

Of  its  deep  solitude,  he  offers  up 

His  tribute  of  adoring  love  and  praise. 

And  as  the  patriarch  bows  himself  in  prayer, 

Jehovah  answers,  —  There  shall  be,  no  mor^e, 

A  flood  of  waters  to  destroy  the  earth. 

Behold !  I  set  my  Bow  within  the  clouds  ; 

And  it  shall  be,  through  everlasting  years 

A  sign  of  this  my  covenant  with  the  earth, 

And  every  creature  on  it.     When  I  bring 

A  cloud  upon  the  earth,  the  bow  shall  be 

Within  the  cloud ;  and,  bending  its  bright  arch 

Of  glory  o'er  its  darkness,  sweetly  speak, 

In  smiles  and  tears,  of  peace  from  God  to  Man ! 

And,  as  He  spoke,  lo  !  bursting  from  the  clouds, 

A  glorious  vision  bent  its  radiant  arch 

Of  many-colored  light,  above  the  spot 

Where  Noah  stood  and  worshipped ;   trembling 

there, 

As  if  in  ecstasy,  at  the  delight 
Its  presence  would  procure  the  sons  of  men. 


6O  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

So,  through  the  ages,  it  has  been  for  God, 

A  witness  unto  Man.     Children  at  play, 

Start  up  with  joyous  shout,  and  clap  their  hands, 

In  welcome  of  its  coming.     On  his  couch, 

The  sick  man  turns,  to  gaze  with  longing  eye, 

Upon  its  loveliness  ;  and  think,  perhaps, 

Of  that  bright  Home  beyond  its  glowing  belt 

Where  sickness  never  comes  !    The  old  man  leans 

Upon  his  staff  to  gaze  ;  and  reverently, 

Reads  God's  own  writing  in  a  thing  so  fair. 

All  Nature  seems  at  peace.     The  birds  pour  out 

Their  sweetest  songs  ;  as  if  they  felt  the  joy 

Its  presence  sheds  around  ;  while  purer  light 

Seems  to  invest  each  object  where  it  shines  ! 

And  thus,  the  Earth  was  saved,  for  endless  years  ; 

And  God's  own  token  of  the  Covenant, 

Set  in  the  heavens  to  tell  how  sure  it  is  ! 


X. 

Not  long  remembered,  was  the  lesson  taught 
By  this  sharp  stroke  of  judgment.     Sin  went  on 
In  its  development ;  and  spread  its  blight 
And  desolation  round  it.     Men  presumed 
To  form  conspiracies  upon  the  earth, 
Against  the  God  of  Heaven.     Defiantly, 
They  sought  to  make  a  name,  and  rear  a  Throne, 
Whose  universal  power  should  send  its  sway 
Throughout  the  ages ;  and  embrace  in  one, 


THE    UNFOLDING.  6l 

The  nations  of  the  earth.     And  so,  they  laid 
Its  strong  foundations  ;  and  presumed  to  rear 
Its  massive  walls,  when  God  came  near  to  check 
The  impious  design,  and  scattered  them, 
Abroad  upon  the  earth.     And,  from  that  hour, 
Babel  has  stood,  to  all  succeeding  time, 
A  monument  of  folly,  and  of  guilt ; 
A  synonymn  for  every  thought  of  Man 
That  seeks  to  be  a  God  unto  itself. 


XI. 

But  did  God  leave  him  thus  ?     Did  He  consent, 
That  Man  should  carry  out  his  own  designs, 
Without  the  counter-working  of  the  Thought 
Which,  in  the  end,  should  bring  the  wanderer  back, 
To  His  own  arms  again  ?     No.     From  the  first, 
The  Counsel  of  Redemption  was  at  work 
To  compass  this  design  ;  as  through  the  night, 
He  silently  prepares  the  coming  day. 
For,  if  Man's  spirit  is  to  be  redeemed 
From  Sin's  control ;  not  in  Creative  power, 
Is  the  redemption  found.     By  moral  force 
Alone,  is  spirit  moved  ;  and  that  is  gained 
By  slow  degrees,  as  moral  qualities 
Display  their  presence.     Would  you  lay  again 
The  strong  foundation  of  a  child-like  trust, 
Once  overturned?     Such  trust  is  born  of  love. 

And  Love  springs  out  of  qualities  that  win 
6 


62  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

The  spirit's  homage.     And,  ere  we  can  stretch 
The  arms  of  our  affection  out  to  God, 
And  rest  upon  His  bosom  ;  He  must  be 
The  Father  of  our  spirits  ;  known  as  such, 
For  us  His  rebel  children.     He  must  show 
How  He  had  borne  the  burden  of  our  guilt, 
Upon  His  heart,  when  we  had  lost  the  power 
To  comprehend  our  guilt.     He  must  abide 
In  patient  waiting,  for  the  end  in  view ; 
And  lay  the  long  procession  of  events, 
That  are  to  bring  it  in.     From  first  to  last, 
The  work  is  His  alone.     And  when  He  stands 
In  the  full  light  of  His  accomplished  Thought ; 
When  His  great  love  has  wrought  out  its  design  ; 
Until  it  puts  its  crown  of  glory  on, 
In  Jesus  Christ  the  Manifested  God ; 
Then  shall  that  love  be  found  to  be  the  power 
Of  new-creation  in  the  souls  of  men  ; 
Awaking  there,  the  thrill  of  a  new  life, 
That  sweetly  answers  back  God's  Fatherhood, 
With  the  new  sense  of  Sonship ;  and  that  loves, 
Because  His  love  constrains  it.     Therefore,  He, 
Not  in  His  works,  but  in  His  character 
Must  show  Himself  to  Mar;.     He  must  remove 
The  misconceptions  Sin  had  introduced 
About  Himself;  and  show  how,  from  the  first, 
He  calmly  waited  for  the  day  to  come 
When  Man  should  know,  and  knowing  trust  His 
God. 


THE    UNFOLDING.  63 

Meanwhile,  He  poured  His  royal  bounties  out, 
In  Nature's  countless  ministries  for  good ; 
Content  to  be  belied,  e'en  in  His  gifts ; 
Bearing  the  Calvary  of  His  patient  love  ; 
Rejoicing  still,  that,  e'en  at  such  a  cost, 
He  could  become  Redemption  to  the  souls 
That  Sin  had  severed  from  their  trust  in  God. 
This  was  His  meaning ;  and  the  ages  were 
The  stepping-stones,  on  which  Jehovah  moved, 
In  tracing  out  His  Great  Design  for  Man. 

XII. 

Its  lines  advance  ;  but  only  as  the  dawn- 
Grows  to  the  perfect  day.     No  sudden  change 
Marks  its  development :  as  through  the  gloom, 
There  steals  a  trace  of  light,  so  faint  and  dim, 
You  almost  question  if  it  is  the  light  ? 
And  yet  it  glows  and  deepens  and  extends, 
Until  it  floods  the  landscape  with  its  beams. 
Thus  unobserved,  among  the  sons  of  men, 
Was  God's  great  movement,  in  the  going  forth 
Of  an  old  man,  from  Home  and  Fatherland, 
To  dwell — he  knew  not  where.    No  sudden  change 
Told  of  the  deed ;  and  yet,  the  morning  dawn 
Was  speeding  onward,  from  the  hour  when  God 
Called  Abram  from  his  home  and  Father's  house. 
He  had  no  sign,  but  God's  express  command ; 
No  token  but  his  faith :  and  yet  he  went ; 


64  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Went  without  question  ;  leaving  all  to  Him 
Who  bade  him  go.  "  Look  now  and  count  the  stars, 
If  thou  canst  number  them  ;  "  and  he  looked  up  ; 
And  as  their  glittering  host  marched  silently, 
Across  the  sky,  the  Voice  Divine  replied, 
"  So  shall  thy  seed  be"     And  the  patriarch's  heart 
Breathed,  odor-like,  its  sweet  amen  to  God  !  * 
In  him  and  in  his  seed,  the  nations  were 
To  be  completely  blessed.     The  Woman's  Seed, 
In  Whom  all  promises  would  be  fulfilled, 
Should  come  through  him ;  and  all  the  nations  were 
To  own  him  for  a  blessing.     What,  if  yet, 
He  had  no  child  ?     Was  not  the  Promiser 
Equal  to  what  He  promised  ?     Would  He  not 
Make  good  His  word  ;  and  vindicate  the  faith, 
That  rested  on  it  ?     He  would  calmly  wait, 
And  go  forth  in  the  path  He  bade  him  tread. 
And,  as  he  went,  the  light  before  him  grew ; 
The  scene  extended  ;  and  his  vision  ranged 
O'er  wider  fields  of  truth,  until  he  stood 
In  the  full  glory  of  that  perfect  trust 
That  gives  its  best  to  God.     And  all  the  light 
That  floods  the  world  to-day ;  each  hope  that  glows 
With  immortality,  shines  on  our  path, 
As  the  unfolding  of  that  first,  faint  beam 

*  It  is  a  beautiful  thing,  I  think,  that  the  Hebrew  renders 
this,  "he  amened  Jehovah  " — /'.  e.  was  fixed  and  stable  and 
sure  in  his  mind,  toward  Him.  And  this  is  believing. 


THE    UNFOLDING.  65 

That,  scarcely,  tinged  the  sky,  when  he  went  forth 

To  seek  a  heavenly  country.     It  was  all 

Embraced  potentially,  in  that  command ; 

Much  as  the  acorn  shuts,  within  its  folds, 

The  oak  of  centuries.     From  him,  has  sprung 

A  line  of  witnesses  for  God,  by  whom 

His  truth  has  been  preserved ;  and  every  age 

Has  seen  that  line  sweep  onward,  telling  o'er 

The  story  of  God's  dealings  in  the  past, 

And  looking  for  the  future  ;  when  the  scroll 

Of  all  the  promises  shall  be  unrolled, 

And  Israel  stand,  redeemed,  regenerate, 

The  royal  nation,  'mid  Earth's  ransomed  tribes, 

Filling  the  world  with  fruit.     And  thus,  one  race 

Was  set  apart  as  chosen  witnesses 

For  God  and  for  His  Truth,  evermore  ! 

XIII. 

A  thousand  years  sweep  onward  ;  and  the  seed, 
Promised  to  Abraham,  had  now  become 
A  mighty  nation  ;  ruling  in  the  midst 
Of  the  surrounding  nations,  with  a  sway 
That  all  respected ;  tempered,  wise  and  strong. 
A  strangely  chequered  history  was  theirs ! 
Captives  in  Egypt,  they  had  groaned  beneath 
The  rod  of  their  Oppressors  ;  but  their  God, 
Their  Fathers'  God,  came  forth  in  their  behalf; 
And  broke  the  power  that  bowed  them  to  the  dust; 

6*  E 


66  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

And  brought  them  out,  and  with  a  mighty  hand, 

Gave  them  a  heritage  within  the  Land, 

Promised  their  Fathers  ;  and  from  all  their  tribes, 

Selected  one,  to  take  the  kingly  place, 

Ere  royalty  was  dreamed  of.     From  its  midst, 

One  Family  was  taken  ;  and  from  that, 

One  Man  selected,  as  the  Special  Head. 

Of  all  the  tribes,  thro'  whom  the  Woman's  Seed, 

Was  to  come  forth.     And  David  sits,  enthroned, 

The  Chosen  Head,  collecting  in  Himself, 

The  scattered  rays  of  promises  that  told 

Of  the  Deliverer  from  the  Chains  of  Sin  ; 

Celestial  visions  on  his  spirit  rose ; 

And  heavenly  harmonies,  to  him  unknown, 

Moved  rapturously,  within  ;  and  tides  of  thought, 

Whose  living  power  he  knew  not,  heaved  and  fell, 

As  waves  do  in  the  Ocean,  sending  out 

Their  eddies  to  the  farthest  bounds  of  Life. 

He  touched  his  harp ;  and  through  the  nations  rolled 

A  tide  of  song,  rich,  glorious  and  divine. 

It  sparkled  with  the  light  of  every  hope, 

That  glows  within  the  heart.     It  took  the  shade 

Of  every  thought  of  sadness ;  and  it  touched 

The  electric  cord,  that  binds  the  soul  of  man, 

To  Life,  beyond  the  Grave ;  and  waked  the  thrill 

Of  an  immortal  hope.     In  every  stage, 

Of  human  life,  his  melodies  Divine, 

Have  been  the  stay  of  thousands.  They  have  come, 

Like  angel-forms,  to  strengthen  us  when  weak  ; 


THE    UNFOLDING.  / 

To  comfort  us  when  sad  ;  and  lift  the  veil, 
That  Sin  has  dropped,  betwixt  the  soul  and  God. 
And  thus  the  lines  of  Progress  were  defined ; 
And  God's  First  Promise  shaped  the  instruments 
Of  its  fulfilment,  in  the  Woman's  Seed : 
The  Root  and  Offspring  of  the  royal  head 
Of  Judah's  honored  line  :  The  Central  Point, 
Of  all  the  glory  of  the  works  of  God ! 

XIV. 

Time  rolled  away;  and  on  its  tide  was  borne 
What  seemed  the  wreck  of  all  that  went  before. 
For  Israel  was  dismembered ;  and  its  tribes 
Were  carried  captives,  into  other  lands, 
Whence  they  returned,  no  more.   The  nation's  sin 
Cast  off  the  crown  of  glory  from  their  head ; 
Broke  down  the  wall  of  their  defence ;  and  left 
The  nation  helpless,  in  the  midst  of  foes. 
Judah  remained.     For  yet,  a  little  while, 
It  kept  its  loyalty  to  God ;  and  held 
Its  place  among  the  nations.     But  the  taint 
Of  their  idolatry  diffused  itself 
Among  the  chosen  people.     All  the  past, 
Seemed  a  forgotten  history.5     No  more 
The  nation's  heart  beat  truly  for  its  God ; 
But  joined  in  idol-worship  ;  and  to  things, 
Which  their  own  hands  had  fashioned,  gave  the 
praise, 


68  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Which  should  have,  been  the  perfume  of  their  hearts, 
To  Him  who  gave  them  all.     Then  came  the  stroke 
Of  Judgment  on  them ;  and  by  Babel's  streams, 
They  hung  their  harps  upon  the  willows,  and 
In  bitterness  of  spirit,  mourned  the  sin, 
That  drove  them  from  their  home.     The  evening 

breeze, 

Sighing  in  mournful  cadences,  awoke 
Responsive  murmurs  from  the  strings,  which  once 
Made  joyous  music  unto  Israel's  God. 
And  memories  of  their  home  and  native-land, 
Moved  tenderly,  within  them ;  while  the  tear 
Stealing,  unconsciously  adown  the  cheek, 
Told  of  the  heart's  deep  secret ;  as  the  drops 
That  Night  suspends  on  grass  and  leaf  and  flower, 
Tell  of  the  absence  of  the  Sun,  whose  heat 
Creates  this  crystal  jewelry.     And  thus, 
Seasons  revolve ;  and  to  the  years  assigned 
For  their  captivity,  the  end  drew  near. 
And  men  return,  as  hoary-headed  sires ; 
Feeble  and  bent  with  age,  who  in  the  flush 
Of  early  childhood,  joined  the  captive  train, 
Not  knowing  what  it  meant.     Yet  from  the  land 
Of  their  dispersion,  Judah  must  come  back 
That  in  the  line  of  David  might  be  born 
David's  anointed  Head ;  the  Woman's  Seed 
Fulfiller  of  the  promises  ;  for  Whom,    . 
All  things  that  are,  exist.     And  thus,  behind 
The  rise  and  fall  of  nations  ;  and  the  powers 


THE    UNFOLDING.  69 

That  men  assign  as  leading  up  to  these ; 
Is  found  a  Something,  greater  than  them  all. 
Working  unseen  ;  spreading  itself,  unknown  ; 
Pervading  motives  ;  leading  on  to  acts  ; 
And  shaping  human  history. .   And  when, 
Men  seem  the  freest  from  all  outward  strain ; 
Self-poised  and  self-determined  ;  they  are  but 
The  chisel  that  rough-hews  the  grand  designs 
Of  a  controlling  God,  whose  purposes 
Run  through  the  changes,  which,  like  ocean- waves, 
Sweep  o'er  the  face  of  nations.     Kings  and  Lords, 
Captains  and  Counsellors,  believe  themselves 
The  architects  of  History :  building  here ; 
Destroying  there  ;  and  thinking  that  their  plans, 
Were  the  great  ends  involved.  Will  they  not  learn 
That  History  has  a  meaning?     That  it  marks 
The  mile-stones,  in  the  progress  of  the  Race, 
Towards  God  and  Freedom  ?   That  the  helpers  here, 
However  lowly,  work  in  line  with  God, 
Although  they  know  it  not  ?     And  if  their  thoughts 
Reach  not  beyond  the  acts  in  which  they  moved ; 
The  acts  alone  are  theirs ;  while  the  results 
Work  for  the  furtherance  of  the  General  Scheme, 
By  which  the  Evil  shall  be  met  at  last, 
And  put  away  forever,  by  the  might 
Of  God's  transforming  love,  as  seen  and  felt 
In  Christ,  the  Coming  One.     And  so,  I  look, 
With  awe  and  gratitude,  on  the  return 
Of  Judah's  thousands  to  their  native  land. 


7O  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

The  Promise  calls  them  back  !   The  Woman's  Seed 
Unborn,  awaits  the  progress  of  events, 
Which,  in  the  fulness  of  the  time,  should  be 
The  sign  of  His  appearing.     And  they  come, 
Not  knowing  why  they  come.     A  Heathen  king 
Prepares  their  way  before  them ;  knowing  not 
The  secret  spring,  from  which  his  action  flows. 
And  Judah  seeks  his  native  home,  once  more, 
That  in  the  Land  of  Promise  mi <jht  be  born, 

o 

The  World's  Restorer,  as  the  prophets  said. 

XV. 

Meanwhile,  through  ages  past,  prophets  and  seers 
Had  told  of  His  appearing.     They  had  gone 
Like  painters  to  the  canvas,  sketching  there, 
Some  feature  of  His  character  and  work. 
And  still,  as  ages  passed,  they  came  and  stood 
By  the  prophetic  page  ;  and  silently, 
And,  without  comprehension  of  the  truth, 
Their  words  embodied,  carried  out  some  line 
Of  the  Great  Portrait,  which  unconsciously, 
Was  growing  into  form  beneath  their  touch. 
And  now,  it  stands  complete  !     Lo  !  here  it  is  ! 
The  Marvel  of  all  marvels  !    God's  Great  Thought, 
Before  the  worlds  wefe  made ;  now  spoken  out, 
On  the  prophetic  page,  and  taking  form 
In  the  Restorer  of  the  World  from  Sin. 
See !  what  a  heavenly  light  beams  round  Him,  here ! 


THE    UNFOLDING.  J  I 

Light,  self-derived !  Light,  streaming  from  Himself! 
The  page  grows  luminous  that  tells  of  Him. 
From  Him  comes  forth  the  glory  ;  and  in  Him, 
Resides  the  secret  power  that  lifts  His  name, 
Above  all  other  names ;  and  round  His  brow, 
Wreathes  that  celestial  halo,  which  suggests 
How  radiant  are  men's  thoughts  concerning  Him! 

<T>  O 

Thus,  for  four  thousand  years,  His  portrait  grew 
To  its  divine  completion.     Line  by  line, 
Was  added  to  its  outline :   till  the  page 
Of  Inspiration  glowed  with  this  one  thought. 
The  glory  of  the  Coming  One  !     And  there, 
It  stands,  to-day,  the   Wonder  of  the  World ! 
His  Name  ;  His  Lineage  ;  Office  ;  place  of  birth ; 
His  character  —  in  all  the  radiant  lines 
That  centre  in  Him,  from  opposing  sides, 
Godhead  and  Manhood  —  all  were  here  portrayed 
In  lines  of  living  light.     His  death  for  Sin  ; 
His  rising  from  the  grave;  and  the  results 
That  should  flow  on  through  everlasting  years, 
From  His  great  work,  are  all  distinctly  lined 
In  this  Word-Portrait,  which  the  Book  of  God 
Holds  up  before  our  view ;  that,  when  He  came, 
The  watchers  for  His  coming,  might  exclaim, 
Lo  !    This  is  He  !    The  Woman's  Promised  Seed  ! 
The  World's  Restorer  !     He  has  come  at  last ! 


72  THE    MORNING    STAR.  » 

XVI. 

And  now  the  Time  has  come ;  and  angels  tell 
To  shepherds,  watching  on  Judea's  plains, 
The  story  of  His  birth.     Was  it  not  meet, 
That  Heaven  should  send  forth  its  angelic  throngs. 
To  greet  His  coming,  in  this  lowly  guise, 
Whom  they  had  worshipped  as  the  Lord  of  all  ? 
And  now  draw  near ;  and  with  a  gentle  tread, 
Approach  His  Manger-Cradle  !    See  !  what  grace 
Is  throned  upon  His  brow  !     What  loveliness, 
Marks  every  feature !     How  the  living  soul 
Looks  through  the  clear  depths  of  His  radiant  eye, 
Unconscious  of  the  mystery  of  His  birth  ! 
And  yet  it  speaks  of  something,  which,  till  now, 
Was  never  joined  to  one  of  woman  born  ! 
See  there,  the  Virgin-Mother !     What  a  light 
Gleams  in  her  eye  !  What  reverence  blends  with 

love,  • 

As,  looking  down  upon  that  Infant-Form, 
Nestling  upon  her  bosom,  she  recalls 
The  secret  of  His  birth !     Does  she  not  know 
The  mystery  that  attends  it  ?     Was  He  not, 
Fashioned  within  her?  Nourished  from  her  frame  ? 
Was  not  His  form,  the  miniature  of  her's  ? 
Beneath  her  bosom,  was  it  not  sustained  ? 
And  yet,  whence  came  its  germ  ?  O  !  was  it  less 
Than  a  direct  exertion  of  His  power, 
Who  formed  the  First  Man  from  the  dust  ?  If  now, 


THE    UNFOLDING.  73 

He  builds  the  Second,  in  the  Virgin's  womb, 

Is  not  the  power  as  truly  His  ?     The  act 

As  much  divine  ?     Is  He  not  moving  on, 

To  rear  the  Temple,  where  The  Christ  shall  dwell, 

In  manifesting  God  ?     And  she  has  part 

In  this  great  wonder !     She  is  chosen,  out 

Of  all  earth's  countless  thousands,  as  the  one, 

In  whom  the  Lord  of  Glory  shall  put  on 

His  garniture  of  flesh !     And  as  this  thought 

Rises  within  her,  with  a  hush  of  awe, 

She  looks  upon  her  Babe :  and  bows  her  head, 

In  lowly  worship  to  the  Lord  of  all ! 

How  reverently,  the  Wise  men  from  the  East, 

Led  by  that  wondrous  Star,  display  their  gifts  ; 

Prophetic  of  His  Character  and  Work  ! 

And  now  the  Shepherds  enter !     It  is  true, 

Just  as  the  angels  said.     The  promised  sign 

Is  here,  before  them.     In  the  Manger,  lies 

The  new-born  Saviour :  and  with  joy,  they  tell 

The  tale,  the  angels  told ;  and  to  their  flocks, 

Return  again,  with  wonder  in  their  hearts, 

And  songs  upon  their  lips.  The  Christ  has  come  ! 

Sing  !  O,  ye  ransomed  nations  !     Tell  it  out, 

Ye  dwellers  in  the  islands !     Let  the  Sea 

Lift   up    its  voice ;    and    Earth,  through  all  her 

coasts, 

Ring  out  the  joyous  notes,  The  Christ  has  come  / 
The  Christ!  Ordained  before  the  World  was  made ! 

The  Christ!  Enwrapping  all  the  purposes 
7 


74  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Of  God,  within  Himself:  alike  if  they 

Reach  back  to  the  past  ages,  or  spread  out 

Through  the  unending  future.     All,  in  Him, 

Attain  their  full  unfolding,  for  He  is, 

All  these,  within  Himself.     The  First :  The  Last : 

The  Soul ;  The  Seal  of  all  the  promises ; 

Beginning  of  Creation,  and  its  Crown. 

The  vital  Breath  of  all  God's  works ;  Himself, 

Including  all  things  !     He  has  come  at  last ! 

XVII. 

Here  let  me  pause  and  wonder !     In  this  Birth, 
I  see  the  blossom  of  the  Germ  of  Hope, 
Which  God,  first,  planted  in  the  Soul  of  Man  ! 
The  bud  unfolding,  is  the  Living  Christ ! 
Here,  He  comes  near  to  help  me  !  Here  He  takes 
My  nature  into  union  with  Himself. 
Here  He  becomes  my  Brother!     Taking  part 
In  all  my  weakness,  yet  without  my  sin. 
But  here,  my  sin  is  pressing  on  His  heart, 
As  bringing  Him  to  this.     Why  lies  He  here  ? 
What  overpowering  need  led  up  to  this  ? 
What  but  His  creatures'  ruin  ?     On  His  heart 
He  took  the  burden  of  my  sin.     My  guilt 
Went  to  His  soul,  and  wrought  Him  grief  and  pain ; 
Which  lay  upon  Him,  as  a  Father's  grief 
For  his  rebellious  child  !     And  so,  He  came, 
Out  of  the  glory  of  His  own  estate ; 


THE    UNFOLDING.  75 

And  put  the  vestments  of  our  nature  on  ; 
And,  as  the  Babe  of  Bethlehem,  lay  down 
In  this,  His  Manger-Cradle  ;  passing  through 
Each  stage  of  our  humanity,  that  there, 
He  might  reveal  God's  wondrous  love  to  Man. 
He  told  it  out  through  life  ;  and,  on  the  Cross, 
Completed  its  revealing.     Here  we  learn 
The  fulness  of  its  meaning.     He  could  give 
Himself,  a  Sacrifice  ;  and  thus,  become 
The  power  of  a  new-life,  in  guilty  souls. 
And  from  the  first,  this  was  the  scene  which  rose 
Before  His  vision.     Ere  the  worlds  were  made, 
Redemption  was  His  purpose.     He  foresaw 
The  entrance  of  man's  sin  :  and  all  the  ills 
That  follow  in  its  train.     The  grand  results, 
Which,  rainbow-like,  should  bend  their  glowing 

arch, 

Above  our  fallen  race,  when  the  dark  cloud 
Of  Man's  transgressions,  had  become  the  means 
Of  showing  forth  the  riches  of  His  Love, 
Were  all  before  His  view.     The  angel's  Song 
Was  His  fixed  purpose  everlastingly. 
He  saw  the  Babe  of  Bethlehem  ;  and  traced 
The  pathway,  which  the  Man  of  Sorrows  trod : 
And  as  He  looked,  He  owned  the  thrill  of  joy, 
Which  f\ill  Redemption  gives  ;  although  He  knew, 
The  Manger  and  the  Cross  alike  were  His. 


76  '     THE    MORNING    STAR. 

XVIII. 

O  !  for  the  power  to  lift  the  veil,  which  hides 
The  secret  of  His  Childhood  !     How  we  yearn, 
To  trace  some  mark  of  His  expanding  soul, 
And  learn  the  processes,  through  which  He  gained 
The  knowledge  of  Himself.     Was  it  the  smile, 
Born  of  a  Mother's  love,  that  first  awoke 
His  consciousness  of  love  ?     Was  it  the  truths, 
Taught  at  her  knee,  that  started,  in  His  thoughts 
Those  undefined  conceptions  of  Himself, 
That  hovered  near  the  mystery  of  His  Birth, 
Without  the  power  to  read  it  ?     Who  can  tell 
The  heavenly  agencies  that  moved  within, 
And  thrilled  Him  with  a  living  sympathy, 
With  all  the  works  of  God  ?    There  was  a  voice, 
Deep  ;  solemn  ;  musical ;  in  Nature's  moods, 
That  told  Him  of  her  mysteries.     Sunset  clouds 
Glowed  with  the  glory  of  a  God,  unseen, 
But  shadowed  in  His  works.  The  evening  breeze 
Whispered  His  Name,  in  cadence  soft  and  low ; 
The  lilies  of  the  field  spoke  of  His  care  ; 
While  every  bird,  that  warbled  forth  its  song, 
Became  a  witness  for  Him.     Day  by  day, 
Made  new  disclosures  to  Him  ;  and  the  Night, 
As  she  put  on  her  coronet  of  stars, 
Told  of  the  many  mansions,  where  should  dwell 
The  bands  of  His  Redeemed.    The  ripening  grain 
Spoke  of  the  Coming  Harvest ;  and  the  tares, 


THE    UNFOLDING.  77 

That  grew  in  the  same  field,  in  silent  tones, 

Told  of  the  Separation,  yet  to  come. 

And  thus,  the  volume  of  His  Father's  Works 

Revealed  its  hidden  meaning:  while  His  Word 

Brought  tribute  to  His  Mission.    Here  He  learned 

God's  thoughts  about  Himself;  the  Great  Design, 

He  came  to  carry  forward ;  and  the  ends, 

He  should  accomplish.     Hence,  the  Spirit  took 

The  doctrines  He  should  teach,  which  blossomed 

out, 

From  the  dry  stem  of  the  Prophetic  Word, 
When  He  became  their  meaning.    Morn  by  morn, 
His  Heavenly  Teacher  wakened  Him  to  hear.* 
Truth  rose  upon  Him,  as  the  morning  light 
Dawns  on  the  landscape.     And  with  its  increase 
He  yielded  up  Himself,  to  each  demand, 
It  made  upon  Him  ;  till  its  subtle  power 
Pervaded  His  whole  Being,  and  each  thought 

*  Very  striking  is  the  testimony  borne  by  the  Prophets  to 
this  great  truth.  "  The  Lord  God  hath  given  Me  the  tongue 
of  the  learned  ;  that  I  might  know  how  to  speak  a  word  in 
season  to  him  that  is  weary.  He  wakeneth  morning  by  morn- 
ing :  He  wakeneth  mine  ear  to  hear  as  the  learned.  The  Lord 
God  hath  opened  mine  ear,  and  I  was  not  rebellious,  neither 
turned  away  back. 

"I  ga^e  My  back  to  the  smiter;  and  My  cheek  to  them 
that  plucked  off  the  hair.  I  hid  not  My  face,  from  shame  and 
spitting." — Is.  1.  4-7. 

It  was  all  made  known  to  Him  by  the  Holy  Spirit ;  who 
"  morning  by  morning"  wakened  Him  to  hear  ! 
7* 


78  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Grew  in  the  light.     Celestial  harmonies, 

Unheard  by  all  beside,  attuned  His  soul, 

In  sweet  accord  with  all  the  will  of  God. 

The  secrets  of  the  past  eternity 

Were  all  revealed  before  Him ;  and  He  saw, 

In  the  clear  sunlight  of  the  Thoughts  of  God, 

The  work  He  came  to  do,  just  as  it  stood 

Before  His  vision,  ere  He  stooped  to  take 

The  garb  of  our  humanity.     And  as 

The  great  conception  rose  before  His  view 

He  sweetly  breathed  His  spirit's  one  response  — 

/  come  to  do  what  in  Thy  Book  I  trace  : 

Lo  !  I  delight  to  do  Thy  will,  My  God! 

XIX. 

And  now  He  stands  prepared.    But  who  can  trace 
The  lines  of  beauty  and  of  glory,  which 
Attend  Him  in  His  work  ?     He  spoke  ;  and  men 
Listened  with  wonder  ;  for  His  words  came  forth, 
Fresh  as  the  sunbeam,  shedding  heavenly  light, 
On  every  theme  He  touched.     He  never  stood 
Below  His  subject,  working  up  His  way, 
From  premise  to  conclusion ;  but  as  One 
Who  was  Himself  the  Truth,  He  told  it  out, 
In  words  divinely  clear.     There  was  an  air, 
Of  majesty  about  Him,  which  bespoke 
Authority  to  teach  ;'  yet  clothed  itself, 
In  such  transparent  truthfulness,  that  men 


THE    UNFOLDING.  79 

Allowed  His  claim,  e'en  when  it  soared  the  most. 
He  drew  not  from  the  Schools  ;  and  nothing  owed 
To  those  that  went  before ;  but  stood  alone, 
As  truly  as  the  sunbeam,  when  it  comes 
Into  the  midst  of  darkness  ;  shedding  light, 
As  from  its  Central  Source.     He  spoke  of  God  ; 
His  Fatherhood  ;  His  love  ;   His  tender  care 
For  all  His  creatures  ;  and  His  words  have,  since. 
Been  sounding  through  the  ages,  telling  o'er 
The  story  of  that  love.     The  humblest  flower, 
Lifting  its  bright  eye  on  us,  from  the  sod, 
In  tremulous  emotion,  seems  to  speak 
Of  Him  who  clothed  it,  in  a  dress  so  fair. 
The  birds  repeat  the  story  ;  and  sing  out, 
With  gushing  sweetness,  of  His  constant  care. 
An  atmosphere  of  love  surrounds  the  world ; 
And  though  they  know  it  not,  His  creatures  move 
And  have  their  being  in  it.     All  His  works 
Acquire  new  meaning  in  the  glorious  light 
Which  Jesus  shed  around  them.     Nothing,  now, 
Wears  the  same  aspect,  as  before  we  knew 
The  story  of  the  Fatherhood  of  God  ; 
And  how,  in  the  humanity  of  Christ, 
All  men  are  brethren.     In  His  wondrous  life, 
There  was  a  beauty,  answering  to  His  word. 
Pure,  holy,  harmless,  separate  from  sin  ; 
He  felt  the  thrill  of  tenderest  sympathy 
For  those  whom  Sin  had  ruined.     See  Him  stand, 
In  the  calm  majesty  of  silent  power, 


8O  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

As  round  about  Him,  lay  the  halt,  the  blind, 
The  lunatic,  the  palsied,  the  possessed ; 
No  word  was  spoken  ;  yet  He  felt  the  plea 
Of  silent  eloquence,  with  which  their  need 
Spoke  to  His  heart.    For  were  they  not  His  work? 
His  creatures,  ruined,  but  His  creatures  still  ? 
Did  He  not  bear  their  sickness  on  His  heart  ? 
Was  not  their  grief  His  sorrow?     Did  He  not 
Feel,  as  His  own,  the  burdens  they  endured  ? 
And  so  He  answered  to  their  wordless  plaint, 
And  healed  them  all.     At  His  enabling  word, 
The  blind  received  their  sight ;  the  flush  of  health 
Glowed  in  the  leper's  cheek;  the  dumb  man  spake; 
The  dead  were  raised  ;  and  devils  fled  away, 
From  those  whom  they  possessed.  He  wiped  the 

tears 

From  weeping  eyes,  and  answered  to  the  touch 
Of  every  human  sorrow.     In  the  midst 
Of  men,  oppressed  with  want  and  carking  care ; 
Weary  and  heavy-laden  ;  knowing  not 
The  secrets  of  their  burden  ;  He  stood  up, 
And  spoke  the  secret  of  His  Gospel  out, 
Come  unto  Me,  and  I  will  give  you  rest ! 
Death  reigned  on  every  hand;  but  He  was  Life ; 
And  came  to  give  that  life.     He  was  Himself, 
The  Resurrection  ;  and  in  Him  alone, 
Death  loses  all  its  power.     And  so  He  came, 
Revealing  God,  while  He  seemed  only  Man ; 
And  lifting  Man  up  to  the  Thought  of  God ! 


THE    UNFOLDING.  Si 

There  was  a  faultless  harmony  in  all 
He  did,  and  said  and  was.     No  discord  marred 
The  music  of  His  life,  which  flowed  along 
In  its  divine  perfection  ;  and  men  looked 
And  saw  a  perfect  character,  displayed 
In  all  the  actions  of  His  wondrous  Life ! 
He  was  the  Central  Figure,  in  the  light 
Of  the  Prophetic  Word  ;  the  Pearl  of  price  ; 
Giving  its  best  and  hidden  beauties  out, 
When  held  at  different  angles  to  the  Sun  ! 
And  thus  He  lived  ;  unfolding  day  by  day, 
More  of  the  truth  ;  moved  by  a  perfect  love ; 
And  yielding  its  full  answer  on  the  Cross  ! 

XX. 

Here  I  would  stand  and  gaze  ;  for  here  I  learn 
The  secrets  of  His  nature.     Here  I  find 
The  glory  of  His  being.     Man  can  mount 
Up  to  the  thought  of  Power ;  and  thrill  beneath 
Its  inspiration.     He  can  comprehend 
Wisdom  and  Justice,  Holiness  and  Truth. 
The  tenderness  of  Pity,  He  can  feel ; 
And  move  responsive  to  the  touch  of  Wrath. 
And  these  belong  to  God.     They  enter  in, 
As  factors  of  His  Being.     They  are  parts 
Of  the  grand  total  of  His  character ; 
Modes  of  His  Spirit's  action  ;  touching  not 

The  secret  of  His  nature.     But  the  Cross 

F 


82  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Reveals  Himself.     It  shows  me  how  He  is, 
At  once  the  Wisdom  and  the  Power  of  God, 
In  His  Self-Sacrifice.     It  lifts  the  veil, 
That  hides  the  inner  workings  of  a  Love, 
Deep,  tender,  self- forgetful ;  thinking  not 
Of  its  own  pleasure ;  living  for  the  sake 
Of  those  whom  it  can  bless  ;  becoming  thus, 
The  power  of  a  new  life,  in  guilty  souls ; 
Dispensing  good,  as  His  one  answer  to 
Each  form  of  ill  around  Him  ;  breathing  out 
Blessings  for  curses,  as  the  Sandal-Tree 
Perfumes  the  axe  that  wounds  it.*     O !  the  Cross 
Illustrates  all ;  and  blends  them  all  in  one, 
Broad  stream  of  light;  and  darkness  flees  away; 
And  every  problem  finds  its  solvent  here  ; 
And  Sin  is  met ;  and  judged  and  put  away ; 
That  it  may  spread  no  more.     And  every  doubt 
Looking  thereon,  forgets  its  power  to  harm, 
And  sits  transformed  before  the  Cross  of  Christ ! 
Here  let  me  stand  and  gaze ;  for  here  my  soul 
Is  melted  and  subdued.     The  things  of  earth 

*  I  do  not  know  whether  this  is  my  own  thought  or  not. 
Sir  William  Jones  has  preserved  an  exquisite  verse  of  Persian 
poetry,  which  is  as  sweet  as  the  odor  of  this  tree.  It  is  this : 

The  Sandal-Tree  perfumes  when  riven 

The  axe  that  lays  it  low : 
Let  man  that  hopes  to  be  forgiven, 

Forgive  and  bless  his  foe. 

Is  there  not  room  enough  for  both  comparisons  ? 


THE    UNFOLDING.  83 

Here  seem  to  fade  away,  and  leave  behind 
The  deathless  issues  of  Redeeming  Love ! 
That  Cross  is  not,  as  men  believed  it  once, 
The  place  of  Shame  and  Death ;  but  all  aglow, 
With  the  indwelling  and  outshining  light 
Of  majesty  and  splendor.     For  it  is 
The  meeting-place  of  Justice,  Mercy,  Truth. 
Here  they  link  hands  together  ;  here  combine 
To  write  the  glorious  sentence,  God  is  Love, 
And  wreathe  it  as  a  crown  upon  His  brow. 
Here  God  comes  nigh  to  tell  me  what  He  is. 
Here  He  reveals  Himself:  here  stoops  to  take 
His  rebel-child  into  His  arms  again. 
Rebel  no  more  ;  but  conquered  by  the  might 
Of  His  omnipotent,  ungrudging,  love. 
This,  this  is  all  I  need  ;  only  to  know 
The  Cross  of  Christ,  in  its  transforming  power. 
Long  had  the  thought  of  God  come  to  my  soul 
Through  a  false  medium  ;  and  He  seemed  to  me, 
Hard,  cold,  unfeeling ;  watching  o'er  my  way, 
To  find  account  against  me.     For  my  sin 
Had  dug  a  gulf,  I  had  no  power  to  cross  : 
And  thrust  me  from  His  presence ;  clothing  Him 
With  all  the  enmity  that  had  its  seat, 
In  my  XDWH  heart,  alone.     My  faith  was  gone  ; 
I  could  no  longer,  trust.     For  my  great  sin 
•  Came  and  sat  down  betwixt  my  soul  and  God. 
I  had  no  power  to  pass  it.     There  it  sat, 
Dark,  silent,  motionless ;  by  day  and  night, 


84  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Forever  there  ;  shutting-  me  out  from  God  ! 

But  here  I  see  Him,  with  a  tender  love, 

Beyond  all  thought,  but  God's,  come  nigh  to  take 

My  sin  away  by  bearing  it  Himself; 

And  with  the  Cross  of  Jesus,  bridging  o'er 

The  gulf  my  sin  had  made.     I  am  not  now, 

An  outcast  and  a  stranger  ;  self-exiled  ; 

But  one  with  Him  who  bought  me  with  His  blood  ; 

And  Life  is  nothing  but  the  space  allowed 

To  tell  of  Him  to  others ;  and  to  show 

The  transformations  His  great  Love  can  work. 

And  thus,  the  Cross  shall,  ever,  stand  confessed, 

The  glory  of  His  Throne.     And  when  the  bands 

Of.  His  Redeemed  shall  be  complete  at  last, 

There  shall  sound  forth,  one  universal  song, 

Worthy  the  Lamb  !     For  He  was  slain  for  us  ! 
And  every  creature,  dwelling  on  the  earth, 
And  in  the  far-off  worlds  shall  join  the  strain, 

Glory  and  Honor,  Wisdom,  Praise  and  Power, 

To  Him  that  sits  upon  the  Throne  of  God, 

And  to  the  Lamb,  forever,  evermore  ! 


CANTO  THIRD. 


THE    RESULT. 


CANTO   III. 

ARGUMENT  :  Jerusalem  the  night  before  the  Resurrection :  Scene  at  the 
Tomb:  Resurrection  of  the  Lord:  Ascension,  description  of:  Effect 
of:  Angels' Announcement  to  disciples:  Pentecost:  Tongue  of  Fire : 
Church  of  Christ,  what?  Thought,  concealed  from  beginning:  De- 
scription of:  Christian  and  his  growth,  described:  Joy  of  all  things  in 
perfected  Redemption  :  Church  goes  forth  to  its  work  :  What  opposed 
to  it :  Results  of  its  work  :  Spread  and  triumph  of  the  Gospel,  how 
accounted  for?  God's  work:  Persecution:  How  met:  Prosperity,  worse 
enemy :  Constantine,  Gospel  under  :  Character  of  Leaders  in  Church  : 
God's  hidden  ones  :  True  greatness  defined :  Panoramic  view  of  God's 
Design  concerning  creation  :  Sin  and  Redemption.  Truth,  spread  of: 
Scientific  discoveries,  meaning  of:  Diffusion  of  error.  Future  glory 
of  Earth  :  Coming  of  Christ  for  His  people :  Marriage  Supper :  Earth  : 
Millennial  State :  Man's  dominion  over :  What  and  how  obtained : 
Nations  during :  Jerusalem  :  Glory  of:  Mission  among  Gentiles  :  Church 
of  the  Resurrection :  Season  of  trial :  Christ's  Coming  in  Judgment  : 
Everlasting  Age :  Great  Design  complete :  Circle  traversed,  and  Results 
obtained. 

86 


THE    RESULT. 

I. 

THE  Paschal  Moon,  in  full-orbed  glory,  shone, 
In  an  unclouded  sky.     No  sound  was  heard 
Above,  around,  beneath.     Jerusalem 
Slept  in  the  moonlight,  with  as  calm  a  sleep, 
As  if  the  guilt  of  that  dread  deed  of  blood 
Rested  not  on  it.     On  the  midnight  air, 
The  hum  of  the  Great  City  died  away ; 
And  silence  reigned  supreme.     Outside  the  gates, 
The  Legionary  Guard  kept  watch,  around 
The  Tomb  where  Jesus  lay  ;  their  measured  tread 
The  only  sound  that  caught  the  listener's  ear. 
Slowly,  the  hours  drag  on  ;  when,  as  the  dawn 
Begins  to  tinge  the  East ;  a  sudden  light 
Illumes  the  sky;  an  earthquake  shakes  the  ground; 
And  lo !  ar^  angel  of  the  Lord  descends 
And  rolls  away  the  Stone.     His  countenance 
Was  like  the  lightning ;  and  his  raiment  shone 
Like  snow  for  brightness.     Overmastering  fear 
Seized  on  the  soldiers;  and  they  sank  to  earth, 

87 


88  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Appalled  and  senseless  ;  while  the  Saviour  rose, 
And,  laying  by  the  garments  of  the  grave, 
Looked  out  upon  the  world  He  had  redeemed ! 


II. 

By  slow  degrees,  the  news  that  He  had  risen, 

Reached  the  disciples  ;  and,  for  forty  days, 

He  mingled  with  them  ;  ate  and  drank  with  them, 

And  spake  about  His  kingdom.     At  the  last, 

He  led  them  out,  as  far  as  Bethany  ; 

And,  giving  them  commission,  to  proclaim 

The  everlasting  Gospel,  till  the  news 

Of  His  Salvation  reached  Earth's  utmost  bounds  ; 

He  spake  His  parting  blessing.     As  His  words 

Fell  on  their  ears,  what  wonder  do  they  see  ? 

Do  not  their  eyes  deceive  them  ?     Can  it  be  ? 

See !     He  is  rising,  with  majestic  grace, 

Against  the  Law,  that  holds  material  forms, 

Down  to  Earth's  surface  !     Yet,  you  look  in  vain, 

For  outward  signs  of  power.     No  rushing  wind  ; 

No  tempest ;  no  convulsion,  marks  the  scene ; 

But  noiseless  as  the  rising  of  the  Sun, 

Is  His  departure  from  them.     Wonderingly, 

They  see  His  Form  receding ;  and  a  cloud, 

Obedient  to  His  will,  bow  down  to  take 

The  conquering  God-Man  to  His  place,  once  more. 

But  not  alone  He  went.     Heaven  opened  wide 

Its  gates  of  glorious  Light ;  and  angel  bands 


THE    RESULT.  89 

Sang  of  His  triumph,  in  responsive  notes ; 

And  Cherubim  and  Seraphim  combined 

To  swell  the  glory  of  His  train,  and  yield 

A  fitting  welcome  to  their  Heavenly  King. 

The  everlasting  doors  lift  up  their  heads, 

As  angels  herald  His  advancing  steps, 

Up  to  the  Throne ;  and  heard  the  Father  speak 

His  joyous  greeting,  as  He  took  His  place 

At  the  right  hand  of  power ;  and  saw  His  Form 

Grow  radiant  with  the  splendors  that  inhered 

In  His  essential  Godhead ;  veiled  till  then, 

Beneath  His  fleshly  dress  ;  now  shining  out 

With  the  full  splendors  of  Divinity ! 

O  !  wondrous  vision  !     Everlasting  light 

Surrounds  the  brow,  that  once,  was  crowned  with 

thorns ; 

And  majesty,  with  its  divinest  grace 
Enwraps  the  Form,  that  hung  upon  the  Cross. 
And  universal  power  is  in  the  hands, 
That  still,  retain  the  wounds  which  Calvary  made. 
Jesus  stoops  down  to  shame.    And  lo  !  that  shame 
Grows  bright  with  fadeless  glory.     He  endures 
Death  on  the  Cross  ;  and  forthwith,  that  becomes 
The  only  gateway  to  eternal  life. 
He  takes  upon  Himself  the  form  of  Man ; 
And  Man  is  lifted  to  the  throne  of  God. 
The  wounds  of  Calvary  are  trophies  now ; 
The  Cross,  the  secret  of  the  Crown.     Its  blood, 
Richer  than  all  Earth's  jewels  ;  and  His  love 

8* 


QO  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

His  self- forgetful  love,  the  radiant  light, 

In  which  His  creatures  learn  to  know  their  God  ! 


III. 

Deep  wonder  held  them  mute.     They  stood  and 

gazed, 

Up  to  the  heavens,  as  if  their  eyes  once  more, 
Might  rest  upon  their  Lord.     And  as  they  gazed, 
A  heavenly  Messenger  drew  near  and  said  : 
Vainly  ye  look,  ye  Men  of  Galilee  ! 
For  this  same  Jesus  shall  return  no  more, 
Until  that  day,  when,  as  ye  saw  Him  go, 
He  shall  again  appear !     Then  they,  with  joy, 
Sought,  once  again,  the  Temple's  sacred  courts, 
While  strange  emotions  moved  them  ;  and  their 

song 

Was  loud  and  clear,  as  if  a  victor's  notes 
Rang  out  upon  the  air.     Must  they  not  speak, 
Of  their  ascended  Lord  ?     Must  they  not  tell 
The  glory  that  surrounds  Him  ?     They  had  seen 
The  Heavens  receive  Him:  and  to  His  dear  Name, 
They  set  the  music  of  their  thoughts  of  God  ! 
Then  came  the  Spirit,  as  a  Tongue  of  Fire ; 
Symbol  of  the  new  ministry,  whose  work 
Was  proclamation  of  the  Saviour's  name, 
Man's  speech ;  God's  power  to  vitalize  that  speech ! 
God's  Truth  ;  Man's  utterance.   If  the  Tongue  of 

Fire 


THE    RESULT.  9! 

Attests  that  truth,  the  simplest  words  we  speak, 

Will  glow  and  corrusca'te  with  light  divine  ; 

Or  lie  upon  the  spirit,  like  the  dew 

Upon  the  tender  herb  ;  or  thrill  the  soul 

With  a  new  power  of  life.     The  Priesthood,  now, 

Gives  place  to  other  ministry ;  in  which, 

The  Word  of  Truth  is  the  sole  instrument ; 

The  Holy  Ghost  the  Witness  :  and  the  Cross, 

The  Centre  of  attraction.     There  is  now, 

No  Altar,  Priest  or  Sacrifice,  but  Christ. 

And  where  the  Tongue  of  Fire  attests  His  work, 

The  Living  Church  is  found  —  but  nowhere  else. 

IV. 

What  is  that  Church  ?     Prophets  had  told  of  it, 

In  phrase  obscure  ;  but  never  had  the  thought 

Dawned  on  the  minds  of  men,  until  the  race, 

Chosen  of  God  to  witness  to  His  Truth, 

Proved  faithless  to  its  trust.     His  Spirit,  then, 

Gave  utterance  to  it,  as  the  Thought  of  God, 

From  everlasting  ;  and  the  sons  of  men 

Saw  its  dim  outline,  faintly  at  the  first, 

But  growing  in  its  beauty,  as  it  took 

The  clearer  lines  and  more  engaging  hues, 

Of  the  fair  vision,  as  it  always  stood, 

A  living  fact  before  Jehovah's  eye  ! 

What  is  that  Church  ?     A  people,  formed  to  be 

His  own  peculiar  treasure.     To  no  Sect, 


92  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

No  Creed,  no  Nationality,  confined  ; 
It  numbers  all,  who  own  the  Name  of  Christ, 
The  Rock  on  which  they  build  ;  and  find  His  love, 
The  power  of  separation  from  their  sins. 
By  His  convincing  power,  the  Holy  Ghost 
Attests  the  Word  ;  and  as,  beneath  the  deep, 
O'er  which  He  brooded,  a  new  world  was  formed  ; 
So,  'neath  the  darkness  of  our  lost  estate, 
The  spirit's  new  creation  is  achieved, 
And  Christ  is  formed  within.    The  new-born  soul 
Emerges  from  the  darkness  ;  and  in  light, 
Attests  its  heavenly  birth.     It  spreads  its  wings 
Of  Faith  and  Hope,  in  the  new  atmosphere 
Of  Christ's  constraining  Love.     Faintly  at  first, 
And  with  a  tremulous  motion,  it  attempts 
The  exercise  of  Faith ;  as  if  in  fear 
Of  its  own  act.     But,  increase  of  the  power 
Comes  from  its  use.     And,  as  the  unfledged  bird 
Grows  into  plumage  ;  and  the  power  of  song 
Takes  on  development,  until  he  stands, 
Acknowledged  in  the  fulness  of  its  life  : 
So  grows  the  Christian  in  his  life  of  faith. 
The  nest  first  claims  him  in  his  callow  state  : 
Where  oft,  unconsciously,  his  wing  is  stretched 
As  if  in  prophecy  of  coming  flight ! 
But  will  it  come  ?     Can  faith,  as  weak  as  his, 
Grow  as  in  others  ?     Yes  :  but  exercise 
Of  what  he  has,  must  be  its  law  of  growth. 
And  soon  from  this,  the  sense  of  freedom  comes, 


THE    RESULT.  93 

As  growing  power  springs  up  from  active  use. 

Then  comes  occasion  ;  and  the  voice  within, 

Answers  the  call  without.    He  spreads  his  wings  ; 

He  mounts  ;  he  soars  ;  rejoicing  in  the  sense 

Of  new-born  liberty ;  and  ere  he  knows, 

The  song  of  triumph  gushes,  sweetly,  forth  ! 

And  thus  all  growth  is  perfected.     Each  step 

Becomes  a  platform,  whence  we  learn  to  mount, 

Up  to  the  next  above.     And  as  the  plant 

Grows  up  from  immaturity,  and  blooms 

Into  the  liberty  of  Bud  and  Flower ; 

So  he  matures,  from  the  first  act  of  faith, 

Into  the  inflorescence  of  a  soul 

That  blooms  for  God  alone.     Henceforth  for  him, 

There  is  no  music  with  so  sweet  a  sound, 

As  that  of  Jesus'  Name :  no  portion,  like 

The  treasures  of  His  Love ;  no  liberty 

So  perfect  as  the  freedom  of  His  Law : 

No  service  like  His  work ;  and  no  reward 

So  glorious  as  the  knowledge  of  Himself! 

He  lives  and  moves  in  this.     His  spirit's  choice 

Turns  to  it,  with  a  tremulous  delight, 

And  seeks  for  "nought  beyond.    For  Heaven  itself, 

Is  just  where  He  unveils  Himself  to  souls, 

That  share  in  His  great  love.    And  they  who  know 

Its  fulness  and  its  meaning,  own  in  Him, 

The  measure  of  all  fulness ;  and  the  pledge, 

That  every  blessing  stands  secure  in  Him  ! 

The  soul's  fresh  springs  are  found  in  Him,  alone ; 


94  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

And  as  they  flow  in  blessings  down  to  us, 

They  sparkle  in  the  sunlight  of  His  smile. 

And  Life's  best  harmonies  are  but  the  sound 

Of  His  salvation,  in  the  souls  of  men. 

These  make  His  Church  ;  and  these,  in  every  land, 

He  now  is  gathering.     They  shall  come  at  last, 

From  every  nation,  kindred,  tribe  and  tongue ; 

And  in  Earth's  new  Creation,  take  the  place 

Of  highest  power  and  station.     For  no  Creed, 

Known  upon  earth,  can  trace  the  only  path 

By  which  lost  souls  may  seek  and  find  their  God. 

The  gathering  of  the  people  is  to  Him  : 

And  He  has  access,  by  unnumbered  ways, 

To  those  who  seek  His  face.     His  truth  can  come, 

In  forms  we  know  not  of,  to  ruined  souls, 

And  save  them  from  their  ruin  ;  though  the  tongue 

May  not  be  able,  into  forms  of  speech, 

To  syllable  the  trust  that  moves  within. 

His  precious  blood  may  prove  a  saving  power, 

Where  our  Theology  ignores  the  work, 

Not  fashioned  by  its  rules.     And  at  the  last, 

From  Earth's  remotest  bounds, they  shall  come  forth 

First  in  His  kingdom,  whom  we  proudly  thought, 

Excluded  from  it ;  while  no  place  is  found 

For  those,  who  deemed  themselves  the  foremost 

there  ! 

These  make  His  Church  :  the  glory  and  the  crown 
Of  His  Creation ;  showing  forth  to  men 
God's  Image,  reproduced  in  human  souls ; 


THE    RESULT.  95 

His  Likeness  made  incarnate  ;  shining  out, 
In  men  whom  Sin  had  ruined,  and  His  Love 
Had  rescued  from  their  Sin.     And  when  at  last, 
That  Church  shall  stand  complete ;  when  God's 

Great  Thought 

Shall  be  incorporate  in  History ; 
The  Harp  of  Nature  shall  awake  the  strain 
Of  exultation  in  the  general  joy 
Of  Man,  redeemed  from  Sin.     O !  nevermore 
Shall  notes  of  discord  issue  from  its  strings ! 
Its  soul  of  harmony  is  perfect,  now 
As  the  great  thought  of  God's  Redeeming  Love, 
Illumines  all  His  works  ;  and  finds  itself, 
In  countless  echoes  speaking  forth  His  praise ! 
The  Shepherd  will  have  brought  the  wandering 

sheep 

Of  this  revolted  Earth,  back  to  its  place, 
Amid  the  sisterhood  of  worlds  —  no  more 
A  wanderer  from  the  fold ;  but  ever  known 
By  the  strange  contrasts  of  its  history ; 
Of  Sin,  and  of  Redemption  from  its  power. 
Of  Sin,  a  burden  on  the  heart  of  God  ; 
And  God  becoming  Man,  that  on  the  Cross, 
He  might  bring  in  Redemption  for  the  race, 
That  sold  itself  in  slavery  unto  Sin ! 

V. 

And  now  the  Church  goes  forth  to  do  its  work, 
With  the  new  Gospel  of  The  Nazarene 


96  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Arrayed  against  it,  were  the  Purse  and  Sword, 
The  Learning,  Laws  and  Genius  of  the  World. 
An  Idol  Worship  ruled  in  every  land : 
Kings  were  its  priests ;  and  Princes  strove  to  be 
Its  honored  servitors.     The  Laws  were  made, 
To  guard  its  altars.     Eloquence  attained 
Its  loftiest  flights,  in  bringing  it  renown, 
And  Poets  garlanded  immortal  songs, 
In  praises  of  its  gods.     It  spake  :  and  lo  !  , 

The  World  bowed  down  in  homage  to  its  will. 
This  on  the  one  side.     On  the  other  —  what  ? 
A  band  of  men,  unlearned ;  and  ignorant 
Of  all  the  graces,  which  the  Schools  could  teach. 
They  could  not  weave,  with  dialectic  skill, 
The  subtle  theories,  which  engrossed  the  minds 
Of  Poets  and  Philosophers  :  or  rouse 
The  admiration  of  the  listening  throng, 
By  their  commanding  eloquence.     No  power, 
Honor  or  state  was  theirs.     They  could  not  touch 
One  spring  of  influence,  which  the  nations  held 
In  honor,  love  or  fear.     They  stood  alone : 
The  weakest  of  the  weak :  Their  daily  toil 
Their  means  of  daily  bread.     And  yet  these  men, 
With  nothing  but  the  story  of  the  Cross, 
O'erthrew  these  altars  :  turned  aside  the  feet, 
Of  those  who  sought  them,  to  the  simple  rites 
Of  the  New  Worship :  Into  daily  life, 
Brought  the  new  factors,  Faith  and  Hope  and 
Love ; 


THE    RESULT.  97 

Taught  men  forgiveness  of  the  deadliest  wrongs 
For  His  dear  sake,  who  bought  us  with  His  blood. 
Proclaimed  the  body's  sanctity  as  meant 
To  be  the  Temple  of  the  Living  God ; 
And  therefore  to  be  honored,  and  kept  free 
From  outward  filthiness  or  inward  stain  : 
Inspired  contempt  of  death,  by  the  new  hope 
Of  resurrection :  showed  men  how,  to  live, 
A  life  of  cheerful,  self-renouncing  love 
Fearful  of  nought  but  sin  ;  and  passed  the  bonds 
Of  common  brotherhood  around  our  race, 
In  the  humanity  of  Jesus  Christ ! 

VI. 

How  shall  we  read  this  problem  ?     How  assign 
A  cause  sufficient  for  these  vast  results  ? 
Man's  power  avails  not  here.     He  could  as  soon, 
Restore  the  dead  to  life,  as  wake  the  thrill 
Of  an  immortal  hope,  in  human  souls. 
And,  as  the  question  presses  for  reply, 
The  answer  comes,  It  was  the  power  of  God, 
In  the  new  Gospel  of  the  Crucified 
That  wrought  these  triumphs  !      Kings  and  Con- 
querors, 

Have  left  no  record  that  can  equal  this. 
The  Fishermen  of  Galilee  eclipse 
In  their  achievements,  all  the  brightest  deeds 
Of  those  whom  men  call  great.    And  then,  to  test 
9  G 


0^  THF.    MORNING    STAR. 

The  strength  of  their  foundation,  storms  arose  : 

And  Persecution  came,  and  robed  itself 

In  all  the  terrors  of  the  Sword  and  Stake. 

The  Rack  assumed  its  deadliest  device, 

Of  mortal  agony  ;  and  Prison-gloom 

Sunk  to  its  deepest  depths  to  shake  the  soul, 

From  its  fidelity  of  trust  in  God  ! 

No  age  was  spared.     Matron  and  blooming  maid  ; 

Youth  in  its  flush  of  manly  strength:  old  age, 

In  its  decrepitude  :  and  infancy, 

In  the  first  sunlight  of  its  opening  life : 

Went  down  before  the  terrors  of  the  storm  ! 

Ten  times  the  fires  of  persecution  raged  ;  * 

Ten  times  Imperial  Power  arrayed  itself, 

In  garments,  rolled  in  blood,  to  hunt  the  name 

Of  Christian  from  the  earth.    Ten  times,  the  strife 

Seemed  to  defy  Satanic  skill,  to  find 

More  subtle  mode  of  torture.     Yet  in  each, 

The  Faith  that  looked  to  Jesus  and  His  Cross, 

Was  more  than  conqueror ;  and  triumphed  still, 

In  its  calm  words  of  Confidence  in  Him. 

And  still  they  grew ;  and  still  the  wonder  spread 

*  I  do  not  wish  to  be  understood  as  meaning  that  this  is  the 
number  of  the  Persecutions.  For  as  Dr.  Schaff  rightly  ob- 
serves, "  This  number  is,  in  any  view,  incorrect ;  too  great  for 
the  general  persecutions ;  and  far  too  small  for  the  provincial 
and  local." — Hist,  of  Christ.  Ch.,  p.  161. 

I  suppose  it  isiquite  allowable,  thus  to  set  forth  a  large  but 
indefinite  number  ? 


THE    RESULT.  99 

Of  Persecution  mowing  down  their  ranks, 

Which  still  grew  up  again  ;  *  and  in  each  growth, 

Produced  again  that  purity  of  life ; 

That  simple  trust  in  Jesus ;  and  that  love 

To  all  who  bore  His  name,  that  turned  the  eyes 

Of  all  mankind  upon  them,  and  drew  forth 

The  praise  of  those  who  hunted  them  to  death ! 

.    VII. 

But  now  a  new  and  deadlier  danger  rose. 
The  old  arbitrament  of  Fire  and  Sword 
Failed  of  its  end.     For  Truth  is  Victor,  still, 
E'en  when  it  seems  the  vanquished.     Has  it  not, 
A  heavenly  birth,  and  resurrection-power  ? 
It,  therefore,  cannot  die.     Forth  from  each  grave, 
Where  men  attempt  its  burial,  it  springs 
With  all  the  fulness  of  immortal  life. 
And  thus,  the  Gospel,  from  these  bloody  fields, 
Went  forth  to  fresh  encounters.     Outward  foes 
Gave  place  to  other  enemies,  who  waged 
Warfare  more  dangerous,  than  the  brutal  one 
Of  Fire  and  Sword  ;  and  with  consummate  skill, 
Wielded  the  weapons  of  luxurious  ease. 
The  Roman  Constantine  took  the  new  Faith, 

*  "All  your  refinements  of  cruelty  can  accomplish  nothing  : 
on  the  contrary,  they  serve  as  a  lure  to  this  sect.  Our  num- 
ber increases  the  more  you  destroy  us.  The  blood  of  the 
Christians  is  the  seed  of  a  new  harvest."  — Tertullian  in  Apol. 


TOO  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Into  his  keeping  ;  marking  out  its  path, 
Through  flowery  fields  ;  and  gayly  wreathed  the 

Cross, 

With  the  rewards  of  office.     Men  bowed  down, 
Before  that  Symbol,  when  Imperial  hands 
Held  it  aloft ;  or  when  they  saw  it  wave, 
On  Caesar's  banners,  o'er  his  conquering  hosts  ; 
That  would  have  hunted  to  a  bloody  death, 
Its  unprotected  followers.     Thousands  took 
The  Name  of  Jesus  on  their  lips,  who  knew 
Nothing  of  His  great  love  ;  and  saw,  in  it, 
Nought  but  the  path  of  honor  in  the  State. 
And  others  stepped  into  the  Stream  of  Life 
Only  to  foul  its  waters.     Errors  spread 
In  wild  profusion  :  and  the  Church  of  Christ 
Seemed  rent  asunder,  with  the  strife  of  those 
Who  claimed  to  guard  its  truth :  but  taught,  instead, 
Wild  fancies  of  their  own.     Hypocrisy  * 
Upreared  its  head  :  and  with  unblushing  front, 
Professed  the  faith  it  neither  knew  nor  loved. 
Yet  still  the  Truth  remained.     Its  inward  Life 
Which  proved  victorious  over  Fire  and  Sword ; 
Conquered  the  blandishments  of  Power  and  State. 
Its  Standard-Bearers  might  betray  their  trust ; 

*  "  Even  Eusebius,  the  panegyrist  of  Constantine  .... 
even  he  is  obliged  to  reckon  among  the  grievous  evils  of  this 
period,  of  which  he  was  an  eye-witness,  the  indescribable  hy- 
pocrisy of  those  who  gave  themselves  out  as  Christians  merely 
for  temporal  advantage." — Neander 's  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  28. 


THE    RESULT.  IOI 

Or  fall  in  its  defence  :  but  other  hands 
Would  wave  it  still,  aloft,  till  every  breeze 
Made  dalliance  with  its  folds  ;  and  every  land 
Heard  of  the  Gospel  of  the  Grace  of  God ! 
Thus,  every  form  of  danger  brought  to  light, 
Men  of  that  giant  stature,  that  could  stand 
Conspicuous  'midst  a  host ;  and  draw  around 
Their  single  selves,  the  interest  of  the  fight. 
They  came  to  Jesus,  as  his  warriors  came 
To  David  at  Adullam  —  in  distress  ; 
Borne  down  with  debt,  and  weary  of  the  yoke 
Of  service  thus  far  borne.     And  in  their  need, 
He  took  them  to  Himself;  broke  off  their  bonds; 
Breathed  a  new  life  within  ;  and  for  the  fight, 
Trained  them  around  the  Cross.     And  thus  they 

grew, 

From  weakness  into  strength  ;  and  took  their  place 
As  Leaders  in  the  host.     Did  dangers  press  ? 
They  rallied  to  the  front.     Did  Duty  speak  ? 
They  heard  her  voice,  and  gladly  gave  themselves 
Responsive  to  her  call.     No  foe  was  deemed, 
Too  strong  for  them  to  combat ;  and  no  lamb 
In  all  the  flock,  too  weak  for  them  to  feed. 
Nothing  was  little,  if  it  only  touched 
The  interests  of  His  work  ;  and  nothing  great, 
Save  as  it  stood  connected  with  His  Cause ! 
These  were  the  Leaders.     But,  amid  the  hosts, 
Thousands  were  found,  whose  names — tho'  never 

traced, 

9* 


IO2  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Upon  the  scroll  of  History ;  and  known 

Only  among  the  lowliest  —  told  of  lives, 

Made  beautiful  by  Faith  and  Hope  and  Love. 

They  moved  as  benedictions  among  men  ; 

Revealed,  as  violets  in  the  grassy  fields, 

By  the  sweet  perfume  which  they  breathe  around  ! 

With  stronger  self-assertion,  they  might  well 

Have  won  the  place  of  honor  in  the  church, 

Or  stood  as  leaders  in  it :  but  they  chose 

The  lowlier  sphere  of  self-forgetful  love, 

Enough  for  them  if,  in  the  Master's  eye, 

Their  work  stood  forth  approved.  Enough  if  they 

But  won  His  loving  smile,  or  heard  at  last, 

His  lips  pronounce,  Thou  faithful  one,  well  done  ! 

VIII. 

And  thus  the  Cause  of  Christ  went  round  the  world, 
Dispensing  blessings,  as  the  Spring  does  flowers. 
Oppression  could  not  strangle  it :  nor  wealth, 
With  its  allurements,  wean  men  from  their  hold 
Of  simple  trust  in  God.     There  was  no  might, 
In  all  that  Man  could  do,  to  break  the  power 
That  held  them  in  allegiance  to  His  Name. 
He  who  has  seen  the  Sun  can  ne'er  forget 
Its  light  and  splendor.     And  when  on  the  soul 
Jesus  arises,  Sun-like,  in  the  light 
Of  His  great  love ;  in  vain,  you  seek  to  fill 
The  measure  of  its  needs,  with  aught  that  stops 


THE    RESULT.  IO3 

Short  of  Himself.     The  soul  has  found  its  God  ! 
Men  talk  of  greatness,  as  if  aught  were  great, 
That  makes  itself  the  Centre  ;  or  that  works 
For  its  own  ends.     No.     In  the  Master's  Life, 
We  read  the  secret.     He,  alone  is  great, 
Who  can  forget  himself;  and  take  the  place 
Of  servitude  ;  if  thus  he  may  become 
A  power  in  living  souls,  to  lift  them  up, 
Out  of  their  sin  to  Life  and  Purity. 
Service  is  Honor  when  its  spring  is  Love. 
And  Love  is  noblest,  when  it  gives  itself, 
In  sacrifice  for  those  who,  else  were  lost. 
Men  seem  divine,  when  they  forget  themselves, 
And  live  for  others'  good.     And  thus  it  comes 
That  in  Life's  lowliest  walks,  we  meet  with  those 
Who  well  could  grace  the  highest;  and  who  spread 
O'er  all  things  round,  the  sweet  attractiveness 
Of  Labor  for  His  Name.     It  matters  not, 
That  men  o'erlooked  them,  in  their  estimate 
Of  Life's  controlling  forces.     None  the  less 
Their  influence  comes  as  comes  the  Stellar  Light, 
Mingling  with  that  of  Day.     You  see  it  not ; 
You  know  not  that  you  feel  it ;  yet  it  makes 
An  estimated  portion  of  the  sum 
Of  the  World's  Light :  and  mingles  with  the  Heat, 
That  keeps  the  springs  of  Life,  in  constant  play ! 


IO4  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

IX. 

Here  then  we  linger.     As  God's  Great  Design 

Became  incarnate  in  The  Christ,  so  all 

Its  great  results  shall  centre  still  in  Him. 

And  as  its  waves  of  blessedness  roll  on, 

He  shall  be  found  the  Light  of  every  joy: 

The  Source  of  every  blessing:  and  the  Spring 

Whence  issues  full  salvation  for  the  world  ! 

Jesus  is  in  the  centre  ;  and  His  smile 

Bears  light  and  life  to  everything  that  lives. 

I  look  and  see  God's  Purpose  for  the  Earth, 

Established  on  it,  as  a  living  fact 

As  I  look  on  through  Him.     In  Him,  it  takes 

Objective  form,  and  robes  itself  about 

In  human  history,  as  it  always  was 

In  God's  conception  of  it.     First,  it  comes 

In  Eden's  beauty,  smiling  on  us  there, 

As  from  the  womb  of  Night,  the  earth  came  forth  ; 

And  Life   before   unknown  —  Grass,  Herb  and 

Flower  — 

Sprang  into  being,  and  exhaled  their  sweets, 
And  sparkled  in  the  jewelry  of  morn. 
Bird,  Beast,  Fish,  Insect,  in  unnumbered  forms, 
Next  heard  His  voice ;  and  answering,  made  the 

Earth, 

The  Air,  the  Ocean,  redolent  with  joy. 
Last,  Man  appeared  :  and  took  his  station  there, 
The  Image  and  the  Likeness  of  his  God  : 


THE    RESULT.  IO5 

There  were  no  discords,  in  Earth's  Birth-Day  Song: 
No  notes  but  those  of  Peace  and  Joy  and  Love  ! 
But  Sin  came  next ;  and  yet  its  fearful  shock 
Jarred  not  that  Purpose  from  its  equipoise, 
Or  turned  it  from  its  course.     It  held  its  way, 
As  calmly  as  the  Sun,  when  tempest-clouds 
Obscure  its  light ;  and  with  its  force  divine, 
Works  thro'  the  darkness,  till  the  clouds  disperse, 
And  leave  the  face  of  heaven  in  smiles,  once  more  ! 
So  God  held  on  the  counsel  of  His  Grace, 
Unchanged,  unchanging.  And  when  He  came  forth, 
In  Whom  that  counsel  was  to  be  fulfilled ; 
And  men,  rejecting,  nailed  Him  to  the  Cross, 
And  laid  Him  in  the  Tomb,  no  outward  sign 
Told  of  approaching  wrath.     The  Sun  arose, 
As  calmly  as  before.     The  Moon  looked  down, 
Upon  His  guarded  Tomb,  as  peacefully 
As  if  that  deed  were  worthy  of  its  light. 
All  things  went  on  in  their  accustomed  course ; 
And  when  He  rose,  the  Conqueror  of  Death, 
No  Victor's  shout  awoke  the  slumbering  world, 
With  the  loud  voice  of  triumph.  From  their  midst, 
Men  saw  a  feeble  band,  weak  and  unlearned. 
Go  forth  to  tell  of  Jesus  and  His  Cross, 
And  triumph  in  His  victory  o'er  the  Grave. 
And  still,  to-day,  that  story  is  renewed ; 
And  blooming  maids  ;   and  young  men  in  their 

strength  ; 
And  hoary-headed  sires  :  and  lisping  babes  ; 


IO6  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Men  crowned  with  knowledge,  and  maturely  wise  ; 

Or  ignorant  of  all  things,  save  the  course 

Of  each  day's  common  duties,  own  His  Name, 

The  Source  of  all  their  blessings ;  and  His  Love, 

The  secret  Spring  of  the  best  joys  they  know. 

In  radiant  glory,  through  the  heavens  of  Thought ; 

He  moves,  full-orbed ;  and  every  sparkling  wave, 

Rising  and  falling  on  the  Sea  of  Life, 

Bears  witness  to  His  power.  And  still  it  spreads ; 

And  Science  lays  her  tribute  at  His  feet, 

Who  is  Himself,  the  Truth :  and  in  each  field 

Of  her  extending  triumphs,  brings  to  light, 

New  tokens  of  His  Wisdom  and  His  Power. 

Unconsciously,  she  brings  them  :  knowing  not 

That  the  resplendent  coronet  she  frames, 

Shall  sparkle  with  His  Name,  in  every  gem. 

Therefore  I  bid  those  toilers,  in  the  mine 

Of  Nature's  wealth,  God-speed  in  their  great  work ! 

I  own  them  all  co-workers  for  the  Truth, 

As  far  as  Truth  is  gained.     I  thrill  beneath 

The  hopes  which  they  inspire  :  and  look  beyond, 

To  hail  the  coming  of  a  brighter  day, 

Whose  intimations  greet  me,  in  the  view 

Of  their  achievements.     What  if  some  despond  ? 

I  cannot  tremble  for  the  Ark  of  God ; 

Or  fear  for  the  foundation  of  His  Word  ! 

I  know  Whose  arm  sustains  it,  though  unseen. 

Nothing  but  Error  perishes.     The  Truth, 

VVhate'er  its  name,  remains.     Allied  to  God, 


THE    RESULT.  IOJ 

As  sunbeams  to  the  Sun,  it  holds  its  way 
Untouched  by  change,  and  smiling  at  the  storm. 
I  know  Whose  will  pervades  the  wondrous  facts, 
Which  Science  brings  to  light ;  and  knowing  this, 
I  look  with  strong  expectancy,  to  see 
Its  fields  extending  ;  and,  with  joyous  heart, 
Its  varied  triumphs  hail !     They  are  to  me, 
More  than  the  work  of  Law :  for,  in  them  all 
I  trace  my  Father's  hand,  Who  shows  me  thus, 
What  thoughts  of  beauty  have  their  home  in  Him 
And  still,  I  look  to  see  these  wonders  spread. 
For,  everywhere,  new  triumphs  wait  their  birth, 
Into  our  knowledge.     New  disclosures  stand 
Waiting  the  hour  that  brings  them  into  view ; 
And  seem,  in  their  expectancy,  to  chide 
The  dulness  of  our  vision,  that  so  long 
Was  closed  against  them ;  tho'  their  beauty  forms 
A  portion  of  Earth's  dowry  from  her  God. 

X. 

And  side  by  side  with  this,  the  Truth  that  tells 
Of  Jesus  and  His  Cross,  shall  still,  go  on 
Winning  new  triumphs ;  in  the  hearts  of  men, 
Ouick'ning  new  hopes  ;  inspiring  new  desires  ; 
And  teaching,  how  a  child-like  faith  in  Him, 
Can  build  our  Manhood's  best  proportions  up. 
But,  with  each  effort  to  extend  the  Truth, 
Falsehood  shall  coin  its  counterfeited  lie. 


IO8  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Thought  shall  be  free  !  but  thousands  shall  mistake 

License  for  Freedom,  and  drift  far  away, 

From  the  old  moorings  of  the  Word  of  God, 

To  find  their  freedom,  servitude  to  self. 

And  Wickedness  shall  spread  ;  and  take  new  forms 

To  suit  the  changing  aspects  of  the  times ; 

Until  at  last,  the  promised  end  draws  nigh, 

And  Earth  looks  up,  in  her  Millennial  Dawn. 

But  not  by  slow  development,  it  comes  ? 

For,  as  the  Sun  arising,  brings  the  day  ; 

So  Christ,  the  Sun  of  Righteousness,  must  rise 

On  the  astonished  earth,  ere  it  can  see 

The  morn  of  its  long-promised  Day  of  Rest. 

And,  as  the  Telescope  brings  worlds  unseen, 

Within  our  scope  of  vision :  so  I  look 

Through  the  Prophetic  Word,  and  see  beyond, 

Its  promised  glories  ripened  into  fact. 

The  Hope  of  all  His  Church ;  the  long  Desired 

Of  every  nation,  has  appeared  at  last ! 

He  comes  to  reap  the  Harvest,  from  the  seed, 

Scattered  for  ages  ;  and  to  bring  the  sheaves, 

Into  the  garner  of  The  Father's  House ! 

His  waiting  Church  is  gathered  to  Himself: 

Their  sleeping  dust  has  started  into  life  ; 

The  living  saints  are  changed  ;  and  both,  arrayed 

In  bodies  like  His  own,  are  taken  up 

To  meet  Him  in  the  air :  and  swell  the  joy, 

That  crowns  the  Marriage  Supper  of  the  Lamb ! 


THE    RESULT.  IOC) 

XI. 

I  may  not  speak  of  that.     For.  who  can  paint, 
In  human  speech,  the  wonders  of  that  scene  ? 
No  !     We  must  lay  aside  this  mortal  dress, 
And  robe  ourselves  in  immortality ; 
Ere  we  can  tell  its  meaning.     For  we  know 
What  we  experience,  only.     All  beyond : 
All  that  will  be  experience,  when  we  wear 
Our  resurrection-bodies,  lies  within 
The  realm  of  Hope  —  above  our  knowledge  now. 
O  !  the  transcendent  glories  of  the  scene, 
That  rises  on  my  sight,  as  I  survey 
This  panoramic  vision  of  His  Word ! 
For,  with  His  chosen,  at  the  Marriage-Feast, 
Jesus  comes  forth  to  smite  the  Man  of  Sin  ; 
And  overthrow  his  works ;  and  rid  the  Earth 
Of  his  polluting  presence  !     From  that  hour, 
Sin  rules  the  world  no  more.     Its  wintry  storms 
Give  place  to  Spring-time  blessedness  ;  and  Peace 
Sits  brooding,  dove-like,  o'er  its  troubled  waves, 
Tossed  with  the  tempests  of  six  thousand  years ! 
The  Sabbath  of  the  World  has  come,  at  last ; 
And  all  things  whisper  of  its  quiet  rest ! 

XII. 

In  Types  and  Symbols,  was  this  Vision  sketched 
In  the  Prophetic  Word.     And  men  looked  on, 


IIO  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

And  as  the  ages  passed,  in  wonder  asked, 

What  mean  these  Types  ?     And  now,  the  answer 

comes 

As  from  the  bud  comes  forth  the  perfect  flower. 
The  nations  are  at  rest.     The  shock  of  war 
Is  heard  no  more  among  them.     For  when  Pie 
Assumes  His  coronet  as  Prince  of  Peace, 
All  things  bear  witness  to  it.     Nature  thrills, 
With  the  deep  harmony  His  presence  breathes 
Thro'  all  His  works.  The  Curse  has  lost  its  power; 
And  barrenness  afflicts  the  earth  no  more. 
Ungrudgingly,  it  pours  its  treasures  forth; 
Nor  claims  the  hard  expenditure  of  toil, 
Before  it  yields  its  treasures.     In  the  ear 
Of  him  who  gathers  in  the  golden  grain, 
The  ploughman's  song  sounds  merrily.  The  plants, 
That  now,  begirt  with  armature  of  thorns, 
Their  flower  or  fruit,  yield  to  their  primal  law 
A  prompt  obedience ;  and  instead  of  thorns, 
Their  fuller  life  unfolds  the  perfect  leaf, 
Or  forms  the  opening  flower.     The  wilderness 
Smiles  out  with  joy  ;  and  henceforth  like  the  rose, 
The  desert  blossoms,  and  the  mountain's  brow 
Waves  like  old  Lebanon,  when  Summer  winds 
Made  music  with  its  cedars.     Living  streams 
Gush  out  in  sandy  deserts  ;  and  the  flow 
Of  rippling  waters,  fills  the  air  with  song. 
The  gentle  poise  between  opposing  powers, 
That  ruled  the  air,  before  the  tempest's  shock, 


THE    RESULT.  Ill 

Spread  round  the  earth  a  purer  atmosphere, 
Has   sway  once  more.     Health  laughs  in  every 

breeze, 
Though  storms  convulse  and  Tempests  rage  no 

more. 

The  Earth,  restored  to  its  primeval  state, 
Rejoices  in  the  fuller  life,  that  first, 
Bore  sway  upon  its  surface.     All  its  tribes 
Share  in  the  glorious  liberty,  decreed 
The  sons  of  God  ;  and  in  one  burst  of  joy, 
Roll  round  the  Earth,  Creation's  song  of  praise. 
The  hour  of  its  long  travail  comes  at  last ; 
And  Nature,  now  is  born !  Its  powers,  repressed 
Through  the  past  ages,  burst  at  last,  to  life  : 
And  whatsoe'er  its  processes  have  told 
Of  hidden  beauty  ;  of  unconscious  powers  ; 
And  capabilities,  scarce  dreamed  of  yet, 
Start  into  bein^,  and  attest  the  wealth 

o  * 

Of  the  rich  heritage,  at  first  bestowed. 

XIII. 

And  o'er  this  scene  of  beauty,  Man  walks  forth 
With  absolute  dominion.     In  his  hands, 
He  holds  the  reins  of  power,  as  at  the  first ; 
And  all  things  own  him  lord.     Harmoniously, 
Without  a  thought  of  harm,  or  sense  of  fear, 
They  move  around  him  :  owning  the  control, 
Which  his  obedience  to  the  Will  of  God, 


112  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Makes  absolute  o'er  them.     I  see  at  last, 

What  our  humanity  in  Jesus  Christ, 

Makes  perfect  Manhood  mean  ;  and  in  His  work, 

Behold  that  lost  humanity  restored  ! 

The  secret  things  which  Science  brings  to  light ; 

With  slow  and  patient  toil,  become  at  once, 

His,  as  by  intuition.     For  the  mind 

In  harmony  with  God,  perceives  the  truth 

Embodied  in  His  works,  much  as  the  eye 

Detects  the  light ;  and  passes  at  one  bound, 

To  knowledge  of  the  process  and  result. 

And  is  not  this  dominion  ?     Was  not  this, 

Man's  heritage  at  first  ?     If  it  was  lost 

By  sin  and  folly :  If  he  sought  to  gain 

By  his  own  power,  the  headship  over  all ; 

Six  thousand  years  of  toil  and  care  and  pain, 

Have  taught  him  what  he  needs ;  and  now  he  stands 

Throned  in  the  work  of  Jesus,  and  receives 

Through  Him  his  lost  inheritance.     The  crown 

Is  Man's,  once  more  ;  but  all  its  glory  tells 

Of  His  dear  Name,  who  saved  us  by  His  blood. 

All  things  are  full  of  Him.     The  nations  learn 

The  story  of  His  love :  and  find  therein 

A  new-creating  power.     His  Truth  distils 

Gently,  as  showers  upon  the  tender  herb : 

And  spreads  new  life  ;  and  in  the  souls  of  men, 

Kindles  new  hopes,  and  wakens  new  desires  ; 

And  builds  up  perfect  manhood,  on  the  type 

Of  character  in  Jesus.     All  that  tempts 


THE    RESULT.  113 

To  sin  and  violence,  is  put  away ; 
And  Righteousness  takes  up  its  home  on  earth, 
And  rules  among  the  nations.     He  comes  forth 
The  Rod  from  Jesse's  stem ;  the  Righteous  Branch 
Out  of  his  roots  ;  and  calmly,  'neath  His  shade, 
The  nations  find  repose.     Upon  Him  rests 
The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  ;  and  twines  the  wreath 
Of  radiant  glory,  in  that  wondrous  Name, 
Which  speaks  His  nature,  to  the  hearts  of  men  ! 
The  Wonderful,  the  Secret ;  Counsellor  ; 
The  Everlasting  Father  ;  Mighty  God  ; 
The  Prince  of  Peace — What  can  be  added  here? 
His  is  the  Name  of  blessing ;  calling  forth 
Life's  sweetest  music  in  the  souls  of  men  : 
And  human  enterprise  flows,  freely,  forth 
Beneath  its  sheltering  power  :  and  everywhere, 
All  Nature  smiles  in  harmony  with  Him ! 
The  King  has  come  at  last !     The  shout  that  hails 
His  glorious  Advent  thrills  the  world  with  life 
And  wakes  it  to  a  joy  before  unknown  ! 

XIV. 

The  nations  hear,  and  own  the  claim  divine, 
He  makes  to  their  allegiance.     Is  He  not, 
The  World's  Redeemer  ?     Is  He  not  the  One 
Whom,  thro'  the  ages,  men  have  waited  for, 
While  yet  they  knew  Him  not?  And  now  He  comes, 
And  all  things  hail  His  coming.     In  the  light 

10*  H 


114  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

Of  His  appearing,  darkness  flees  away ; 

And  Peace  and  Joy  walk  forth  upon  the  earth. 

The  lesson  of  one  blood  is  learned  at  last ; 

And  men,  rejoicing,  feel  the  sacred  tie, 

Of  Fatherhood  in  God,  in  His  dear  Name, 

Who  makes  them  one  in  Him.     Jerusalem 

Sits  in  the  place  of  honor.     From  afar, 

The  Gentiles  see  her  rising ;  and  their  kings 

Bring  of  their  glory  to  her.     She  becomes 

A  name  of  praise  and  power  upon  the  earth  ; 

A  diadem  of  beauty  in  the  hands 

Of  her  Redeeming  God.     Her  sons  stand  forth, 

His  chosen  witnesses  ;  and  tell  abroad 

The  story  of  His  acts  in  their  behalf. 

For  ages,  they  had  gone  around  the  earth 

A  living  Miracle,  attesting  still, 

Although  unconsciously,  His  Word  of  Truth, 

Which,  through  the  desolations  of  the  past, 

Kept  guard  around  them  ;  holding  them  in  life, 

When  nations,  mightier  far  had  passed  away ! 

And  now  the  veil  is  lifted.     As  they  look, 

Lo  !  The  true  Joseph  stands  revealed  at  last! 

O  !  the  deep  wonder  of  that  gracious  hour ! 

The  darkness  passes.     Light,  within  their  souls, 

Rises  in  full-orbed  glory ;  and  they  see 

The  meaning  of  that  wondrous  Life  and  Death 

By  which  He  sought  to  win  them  to  Himself. 

Was  ever  love  like  His  ?     Was  ever  guilt 

As  crimson-dyed  as  theirs  ?     Yet,  He  forgives  ! 


THE    RESULT.  II 


And  with  the  sense  of  pardon,  they  awake, 
And  thrill  with  the  new  life  His  Love  begets. 
Henceforth,  they  live,  but  to  show  forth  His  praise, 
And  speak  of  Him  to  others.     And  they  hear 
Of  His  transforming  grace,  who  through  the  past, 
Had  lived  in  utter  darkness  ;  bowing  down 
To  gods  their  hands  had  made.  And  when  they  hear, 
They  own  Him  Sovereign  Lord ;  the  unknown  One 
Whom,  in  their  ignorance,  they  robed  about, 
With  passions  like  their  own.    To  Him  thqybow; 
And  bring  the  perfume  of  adoring  hearts, 
When  first  they  hear  His  Name.  Ancl  thus,  the  seed 
Of  Abraham  become,  as  prophets  said, 
The  world's  instructors  ;  showing  forth  His  praise  ; 
And  scattering  blessings  round  a  ransomed  world. 
His  glorious  attributes  burst  into  view 
In  passing  through  their  history,  as  Light 
Breaks  into  rainbows,  when  it  meets  a  cloud. 
And  Israel,  circled  thus,  as  in  a  bow 
Of  iridescent  glory  stands  confessed, 
First  of  the  nations  ;  bringing  Light  and  Life, 
To  those'  who  sat  in  Darkness  and  in  Death. 

XV. 

But  not  alone  they  labor.  By  their  side, 
Robed  in  the  garments  of  immortal  Life, 
The  Children  of  the  Resurrection  stand  ; 
And  in  their  heavenly  ministry,  proclaim 


Il6  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

The  riches  of  His  Grace.    Girt  round  with  power, 

They  know  no  weakness  :  feel  no  touch  of  sin  ; 

And  dream  of  death,  no  more.  What  spirit  prompts 

Their  bodies  execute  ;  as  free  as  it 

To  move  unfettered  through  the  realms  of  space. 

For  what  is  this,  but  the  inheritance 

That  waits  our  fuller  life?     The  mastery 

Of  sinless  beings  o'er  Creation's  laws, 

By  harmony  with  Him  Whose  will  they  speak  ? 

No  weariness  attends  their  service  now. 

Does  spirit  weary  ?     And  the  form  that  owns 

Affinity  with  spirit,  feels  the  thrill 

Of  an  undying  life  in  all  its  powers. 

No  pain  can  touch  them  ;  no  disease  invade ; 

No  languor  enervate :  no  labor  tire. 

The  Lamb,  amidst  the  Throne,  shall  lead  them  forth 

Beside  the  living  waters.     They  shall  feel 

Hunger  and  thirst  no  more.    His  hand  shall  wipe 

All  tears,  from  every  eye  ;  and  all  the  ills 

Of  their  experience,  in  this  mortal  state, 

Shall  pass  like  troubled  dreams.     And  thus  they 

move, 

In  radiant  glory  'midst  the  sons  of  men, 
As  angels  did  at  first.     Familiarly, 
They  tell  the  story  of  the  Saviour's  love ; 
And  in  themselves,  best  illustrate  its  power. 
Its  germ  blooms  out,  in  everlasting  life  ; 
And  all  the  glory  of  their  deathless  state 
Is  but  its  ripened  fruit.     To  other  worlds, 


THE    RESULT.  II/ 

They  bear  the  wondrous  tidings ;  and  proclaim 
In  all  the  mansions  of  the  Father's  House 
The  riches  of  His  grace,  who  gave  Himself 
A  Sacrifice  to  take  away  their  sin  ; 
And  bring  the  wanderer  back  again  to  God. 
The  Patriarch's  Dream  is  realized,  at  last ; 
And  angels  pass,  in  loving  intercourse, 
Between    the    Heavens    and    Earth  —  too    long 

estranged  — 

Upon  the  Ladder  of  His  Finished  Work  ! 
And  now  He  wears  the  Crown.  To  Him  of  right, 
Alone  belongs  its  glory ;  for  the  Cross, 
When  rightly  understood,  is  Victory 
In  its  sublimest  forms.     The  Crown,  the  Throne, 
Is  but  its  due  result :  and  all  the  power, 
That  sways  the  sceptre  of  His  Government, 
And  leads  the  soul  a  captive  to  its  God, 
Is  but  the  issue  of  Incarnate  Love  ; 
And  had  its  birth,  as  certain  consequence, 
In  His  Self-Sacrifice  for  guilty  men. 
From  Earth's  remotest  bounds,  one  song  goes  up 
Of  praise  to  His  great  Name.    The  old  man  tells, 
In  trembling  speech,  its  preciousness  and  power ; 
And  sighing,  reckons  it  Life's  greatest  loss 
That  its  best  days  were  spent,  in  ignorance 
That  veiled  Him  from  his  view.  In  the  warm  flush 
Of  manly  strength,  the  Youth  recounts  His  praise  ; 
The  maiden  joins  the  strain  ;  while  Infancy, 
In  its  sweet  accents,  whispers  of  the  Love, 


Il8  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

That  gave  the  world  the  Babe  of  Bethlehem  ! 
All  states  of  life  ;  all  characters  ;  combine 
To  swell  the  song,  that,  through  Creation  rolls 
A  ransomed  World's  just  tribute  to  His  praise. 

XVI. 

I  sing  not  of  the  Trial,  that  breaks  in 

Upon  these  scenes  of  blessedness :  nor  tell 

How  the  Arch-Tempter  is  let  loose  again, 

To  try  his  cunning  snares  ;  and  test  the  strength 

Of  what  appeared  to  be  new  life  within. 

Is  it  a  Life  ?     And  will  it  choose  the  Good  ? 

Can  Evil  take  it,  in  its  cunning  snares  ? 

Or  will  its  inward  Sense  of  Right  detect 

The  subtle  lie  ?     Can  strong  assault  break  down 

The  arm  of  its  defence  ?     Or  will  it  stand, 

In  fearless  conflict  for  the  Right  and  True  ? 

This  must  be  proved — for  less  than  this,  woultl  be 

To  build  upon  the  sand.     Ere  we  can  see 

The  Everlasting  Age,  upon  the  Earth ; 

Man  must  be  rooted,  in  the  choice  of  Good, 

For  its  own  sake  :  and  yield  responsive  notes 

To  all  the  Will  of  God.     Thus  Trial  comes 

Upon  the  Earth  once  more  ;  and  nations  feel 

The  shock  of  contest,  'twixt  the  Good  and  111. 

I  sing  not  of  this  now :  but  pass  beyond 

To  the  transcendent  glories  of  the  scene, 

In  which  the  Harvest  of  the  Earth  is  reaped, 


THE    RESULT.  IIQ 

And  all  things  that  offend  are  put  away 
From  the  Redeemer's  Kingdom.     He  reserves 
This  triumph  to  Himself;  and  gloriously, 
His  own  right  arm  achieves  the  victory ! 
Heaven  opens  wide  its  glorious  gates,  as  He, 
Throned  in  the  clouds,  in  majesty  divine, 
With  His  attendant  angels,  swelling  wide 
The  splendors  of  His  train,  comes  down  to  Earth. 
The  Great  White  Throne  is  set ;  and  from  His  face, 
The  Earth  and  Heavens  in  wonder,  flee  away ! 
For,  is  not  He,  the  Incarnate  Love  of  God  ? 
And  what  can  blaze,  with  such  consuming  fire, 

o 

As  Perfect  Love ;  when  it  has  passed  the  bounds 

Of  its  divine  forbearance  ?     Is  not  Light, 

Whose  sweetest  smile  is  Heaven's  unclouded  blue, 

One  with  its  fiery  crimson  ?     Is  not  that, 

Unseen,  electric  force,  whose  gentle  touch 

Opens  the  Evening  Primrose,  with  a  start, 

One  with  the  lightning- flash  that  blasts  the  Oak  ? 

And  that  deep,  tender,  everlasting  Love, 

Which  led  Him  to  the  Cross :  and  moved  the  springs, 

Of  all  its  tender  ministries,  is  yet, 

One,  in  its  essence,  with  that  fiery  Wrath, 

That  burns  against  incorrigible  111 ! 

Thus,  on  His  Judgment-Throne  as  on  His  Cross, 

Love  rules  in  all  He  does.     It  rears  the  Throne  ; 

Surrounds  it  with  its  splendors  ;  and  declares, 

The  Sentence,  that  shall  purge  the  World  from  sin, 

And  separate  the  evil  from  the  good  ! 


I2O  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

But  of  that  sentence  who  may  dare  to  speak  ? 
When  He  Whose  lips  pronounce  it,  draws  the  veil 
Of  outer  darkness  round  it  ?     He  alone, 
Knows  its  full  meaning.     God  forbid,  that  I 
Should  seek  to  lift  that  veil ;  or  paint  the  scene, 
That  lies  concealed,  behind  it !     Death  is  there, 
Because  He  is  not !     But  what  Death  may  be, 
In  this  conception  of  it  —  who  can  tell  ? 
This  much  we  know:  In  the  Revealing  Day, 
He  will  disclose  it :  and  the  Heavens  shall  shout, 
And  Earth,  rejoicing,  echo  back  the  strain 
Judgment  and  R^ghteo^^,sness  siipport  His  Throne  ! 

XVII. 

And  now  the  vision  that  has  struggled  long, 
Amid  surrounding  darkness,  dissipates 
The  clouds  that  overhung  it.     What  a  scene 
Of  radiant  glory,  bursts  upon  the  sight ! 
Earth  stands  revealed,  as  angels  saw  it  once, 
In  its  first  bloom  of  beauty.     All  that  tells 
Of  blight  and  barrenness,  disease  and  death, 
Is  put  away  forever.     From  above, 
The  Sun  looks  down,  with  life-imparting  beams  ; 
And  draws  no  pestilence  from  reeking  soils, 
Charged  with  the  germs  of  death ;  nor,  with  its  heat, 
Scorches  the  tender  plant.     The  Moon  and  Stars 
Shed  their  serenest  glory ;  for  their  light 
Streams  through  an  atmosphere  that  yields  it  all, 


THE    RESULT.  121 

To  human  view  ;  yet,  so  entrancingly 
Spreads  its  delicious  influence,  that  to  breathe, 
Is  to  receive  the  impulse  of  new  life. 
In  all  its  borders,  Earth  has  now,  become 
Man's  fitting  Habitation.     Fiery  heat, 
And  deadly  cold,  are  known  on  it  no  more. 
While  all  that  fosters  all  the  powers  of  Life 
And  brings  them  forth  in  full  development, 
Is  found  upon  it ;  and  it  stands  confessed 
Worthy  His  Thought,  Who  made  it  thus  at  first ; 
Worthy  His  Love,  WTho  ransomed  it  when  lost ; 
Worthy  His  Purpose,  Who  through  all  the  gloom 
And  desolation  of  Man's  dark  revolt, 
Meant  to  restore  it ;  and  has  now,  achieved 
This  part  of  the  great  counsel  of  His  Grace  ! 
Sing  of  its  restoration,  Ye  who  dwell 
In  the  surrounding  planets  !     Open  wide 
Your  heavenly  gates,  Ye  Sisterhood  of  Worlds, 
To  let  the  Wanderer  in  !     Nor  deem  the  place 
Of  precedence,  in  all  your  glorious  hosts, 
Too  high  for  her,  who  bears  upon  her  brow, 
The  Coronet  of  God's  Redeeming  Love  ! 
The  Kingdom  is  the  Lord's  ;  and  all  that  makes, 
Serenest  harmony  and  perfect  bliss, 
Is  centred  in  its  bounds.     One  language  serves 
Through  all  its  borders  ;  and  from  every  tribe, 
Near  and  remote,  is  heard  one  common  strain 
Of  glory  to  His  Name  ;  and  every  heart 
Offers  its  love,  and  every  voice  its  praise. 


122  THE    MORNING    STAR. 

See  !  how  Heaven  opens  ;  and  the  shining  throngs 
Of  Resurrection-Saints  press  down  to  greet, 
And  mingle  with  the  Brotherhood  of  Earth  ! 
What  glory  crowns  each  brow !  What  radiant  light, 
With  its  sweet  halo,  circles  every  form  ! 
They  need  no  Sun  by  day,  nor  Moon  by  night ; 
For  God's  essential  glory  drives  away 
All  darkness  where  they  dwell ;  and  in  its  beams 
The  nations  walk  secure.     The  Throne  of  God 
And  of  the  Lamb  is  there  ;  and  out  of  it, 
The  Stream  of  Life,  with  its  mellifluous  flow, 
Sends  forth  its  crystal  waters,  on  whose  brink 
The  Tree  of  Life  unfolds  its  healing  leaves, 
And  yields  its  precious  fruit.  The  Flaming  Sword, 
No  longer  guards  it  now  :  the.  Cherubim 
Protect  its  fruit  no  more  :  but  angel  hands 
Dispense  it  to  the  nations,  and  they  eat, 
And,  in  the  flush  of  its  Immortal  Life, 
Become  superior  to  the  touch  of  Death. 
There  is  no  Death.     It  disappears  with  Sin : 
And  all  the  ills  that  follow  in  its  train, 
Cease,  like  the  shadow,  when  the  substance  fails  ! 
In  Earth :  in  Heaven  :  and  in  the  far-off  worlds, 
God's  Will  is  done,  and  prompt  obedience  rules 
Each  thought  of  Man  ;  each  interest  of  his  life ; 
And  all  the  combinations  that  affect 
Surrounding  nations,  and  the  lower  tribes 
That  dwell  in  peace  about  him.     All,  alike, 
Proclaim  how  perfectly  that  Will  is  done  ; 


THE    RESULT.  123 

And  how  it  moves,  in  harmony  divine, 

Through  Nature's  deepest  workings.   God's  Great 

Thought, 

Circling  the  Universe,  comes  back  to  Earth ; 
And  in  the  sweep  and  glory  of  its  work, 
Finds  Man  redeemed,  and  purified  from  Sin : 
The  Evil  banished,  to  return  no  more ; 
And  God  Himself,  revealed  through  Jesus  Christ, 
The  All  in  all ;  Supreme  and  Perfect  Good  ! 


MISCELLANEOUS  POEMS. 


125 


MISCELLANEOUS  POEMS. 


THE   STORY  OF  LITTLE   THINGS. 

"  There  are  more  things  in  Heaven  and  Earth,  Horatio, 
Than  are  dreamed  of-  in  your  philosophy." 


I. 

A  LITTLE  One  sat  on  her  Grandpa's  knee, 

And  her  curls  fell  gracefully  on  his  breast ; 
While  she  sought  with  a  burst  of  childlike  glee, 

To  pillow  her  head  on  that  place  of  rest. 
He  was  old  and  withered ;  if  we 

Might  judge  from  the  lines  upon  his  face. 
Old  and  withered  and  worn ;  while  she 

Was  fresh  as  light  in  its  morning  grace. 
Was  he  indeed,  so  ?     Do  you  think, 
That  Life  can  be  known,  while  on  its  brink, 
We  tread,  with  the  free  and  gladsome  airs, 
That  Childhood,  in  its  freshness  wears? 
I  know  there  are  notes  which  it  can  touch, 

Clear  and  sweet  and  ringing:  but  much 

127 


128  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

That  makes  Life's  grandest  harmony, 

Is  to  it  unknown.     For  we 

Must  range  the  Octaves  o'er  and  o'er, 

The  tenor  of  joy,  and  the  bass  of  pain  ; 
And  blend  their  varying  notes,  before 

We  learn  the  compass  of  the  strain, 

Or  join  in  the  swell  of  its  full  refrain. 
We  may  grow  young,  as  years  increase  ; 

And  brighter  thoughts  than  Childhood  guessed, 
May  spring  from  the  hoary  head,  when  Peace 

Has  made  its  home  in  the  aged  breast 
Fancy  may  move  with  its  lightest  grace ; 

And  Hope  with  its  most  elastic  tread ; 
And  Love  of  the  Beautiful  hold  its  place, 

In  hearts,  whose  dearest  hopes  are  fled ; 
When  we  come  to  learn,  that  Life  may  be, 
Only  the  Bud  of  Eternity ; 
Waiting  here  for  the  Spring  to  come, 
When  it  blossoms  out  in  its  Heavenly  Home ! 

II. 

"Tell  me  a  story,"  —  the  Little  One  said. 

And  the  Old  Man  looked,  with  a  bright'ning 

eye, 
As  he  laid  his  hand  on  her  curly  head, 

And  thus,  to  his  darling,  made  reply. 
"  A  Story,  Little  One  !     What  shall  it  be  ?  " 

"  A  real,  live  story,  Grandpa,  please  ; 


THE    STORY    OF    LITTLE    THINGS.  129 

Of  the  Little  Folks,  we  cannot  see, 

Who  dance  in  the  Rain-drops  and  sing  in  the 

Trees, 

When  the  Wind  is  blowing,  merrily  — 
For  you  said  there  were  such,  once,  you  know." 

"  Yes  !  my  Darling  !     Long  ages  ago  ; 

Long  before  Grandpa  himself  was  born  ; 

Long  before  his  first  saw  the  morn  ; 

Or  his,  or  his,  in  a  length'ning  line  — 

Men  had  strange  thoughts  of  the  Power  Divine : 

And  peopled  the  Earth,  Woods,  Air  and  Springs, 

With  countless  hosts  of  Little  Things, 

O      ' 

People  we  ought  to  call  them  :  who,  — 

Pervading  Nature,  through  and  through  — 

Had  forms  so  tiny  that  they  could  sup, 

In  the  dainty  folds  of  the  Butter-Cup ; 

Or  hide  themselves,  till  Evening's  close, 

In  the  spiral  forms  of  the  sweet  Primrose 

And  then,  with  a  sudden  burst  and  shout, 

Let  its  delicious  fragrance,  out ! 

They  could  ride  on  the  wave  in  a  Muscle-Shell, 

As  the  Moonbeams  glanced  on  the  glistening  tide ; 
And  feel  their  Fairy  bosoms  swell 

With  the  thrilling  touch  of  Elfin  pride. 
They  had  all  hours  beneath  their  sway; 
But  better  far  than  the  garish  day, 
They  loved  the  quiet  hours  of  night, 

When  all  things  slept  in  the  pale  moonlight ; 

i 


MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

And  the  busy  world  was  hushed  and  still ; 

And   nought  was    heard    but  the   watch-dog's 

bark, 
As  he  bayed  the  Moon  from  the  distant  hill ; 

And  the  owl  was  hooting  in  forests  dark. 
Then,  roused  by  the  stroke  of  the  Wood-tick's 
Clock, 

As  he  kept  the  hours  in  the  haunted  Oak  ; 
They  would  spring  from  their  homes  in  the  rifted 
rock, 

And  answer  the  call,  which  his  summons  spoke. 
Away,  away,  they  would  speed  them  on, 
Ere  the  wizard  hours  of  night  were  gone  ! 
Some,  from  the 'Glens  and  the  Caves,  would  come, 
To  the  drowsy  sound  of  the  beetle's  hum  ; 
Some,  from  the  sweets  of  their  flowery  bed, 

Would  start  at  the  call  with  a  glad  surprise  ; 
And  some  would  move  with  too  nimble  a  tread, 

To  shake  the  dew  from  the  violet's  eyes. 
Some,  from  the  tops  of  the  moonlit  trees ; 

Some,  where  the  humming-bird's  tiny  nest, 
Scarcely  swayed  in  the  fragrant  breeze, 

As  it  stole  from  the  prairies  of  the  West ; 
Some,  on  the  back  of  the  toad,  would  ride 

—  For  they  loved  all  sorts  of  frolic  and  fun  — 
Some  would  step,  with  a  stately  pride ; 

Some  would  walk,  and  some  would  run  ; 
Some,  on  the  wings  of  the  Moth  would  fly ; 

Some  would  take  the  Fire-Fly's  lamp, 


THE    STORY    OF    LITTLE    THINGS. 

And  as  it  twinkled  cheerily, 

Wend  their  way  o'er  Hill  and  Swamp  ; 
And  giggle  and  laugh,  as  they  strove  to  pass 
Will-o'-the-Wisp,  on  his  dark  morass. 
With  Elfin  fingers  some  would  untwist 

The  Morning-Glory's  purple  fold  ; 
And  some  would  come,  on  the  lowland  mist, 

As  it,  chariot-like,  before  them  rolled ; 
And  some,  on  the  back  of  the  Shooting-Star, 
Would  come  to  the  trysting  ground  from  far. 
From  Heaven  above  and  Earth  beneath  ; 
From  Hill  and  Vale  and  grassy  Plain  ; 
From  wheresoe'er  God's  creatures  breathe, — 
They  would  come  with  might  and  main 
Members  of  the  Elfin-Court  ; 
And  with  Fairy  glee  and  sport, 
Pass  the  moonlit  hours  away, 
Till  the  early  dawn  of  day. 

III. 

But  often,  a  Stream  would  cross  their  way ; 

And  then,  it  was  royal  fun,  to  see 
How  the  Nymphs  and  Water-Sprites  obey 

A  Law  which  bound  them,  loyally, 
To  keep  their  sacred  precincts,  free 
From  stranger-feet !     With  roguish  gleam, 
You  might  see  their  elfin-faces  beam, 
Here  and  there,  in  the  moonlit-stream, 


132  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

As  its  ripples,  merrily,  danced  along 

To  the  sweet  refrain  of  their  gentle  song. 

But  as  soon  as  the  Fays  of  the  Land  would  cross 

To  the  other  side,  the  Nymphs  of  the  Stream 
Would  raise  their  tiny  forms,  and  toss 

Their  little  waves  ;  and  shout  and  scream, 
With  the  myriad  voices  of  Elfin  spite ; 
As  they  felt  the  thrill  of  a  strange  delight, 
In  seeking  thus,  to  turn  away. 
The  feet  of  the  Intruding  Fay? 
They  would  call  the  Leech  his  blood  to  draw ; 

They  would  summon  the  Shrimp  and  Soldier- 
Crab  ; 
They  would  bid  the  Pike,  with  his  hungry  maw, 

Follow  him  fast :  and  guide  the  stab, 
Which  the  Sword-Fish,  gave  with  his  weapon  grim, 
As  he  sought  to  pierce  the  elfin-limb. 
O  !  but  a  weary  time  had  they, 
Who  strove  to  win  their  toilsome  way, 
Across  the  Water-Sprites'  domain  : 
But,  when  the  other  side,  they  gain, 
They  shout  and  sing,  with  elfin  glee, 
And  haste  to  the  place  of  their  revelry. 

IV. 

It  was  a  lovely  spot  to  see ! 

For  the  winds  forgot  their  anger  there ; 
And  they  sighed,  with  so  soft  a  melody, 

That,  they  scarcely,  stirred  the  evening  air ! 


THE    STORY    OF    LITTLE    THINGS.  133 

And  the  stately  trees  their  shadows  threw, 

Over  against  the  sky  of  blue ; 

As  the  moonbeams  touched  their  tops  with  light, 

Giving  the  shade  a  darker  night, 

Where  the  branches,  arching  overhead, 

A  royal  canopy  upreared; 
And  a  carpet,  soft  as  a  Fairy's  tread, 

Of  grass,  inlaid  with  flowers,  appeared. 
The  little  blue-eyed  Forget-Me-Not, 
Breathed  its  perftime  round  the  spot; 
The  graceful  forms  of  the  Maiden-Hair, 

Waved  with  a  motion  light  and  free : 
As  if  it  sought  its  life  to  share, 

With  the  fairy-leaved  Anemone  ! 
And  the  Daisy  strove,  with  its  cheerful  face, 
To  lend  fresh  charm  to  the  sacred  place  : 
While  Pansy,  Asphodel  and  Rose, 
All  their  loveliest  tints  disclose. 
With  mimic  skill  the  Throne  appeared, 
On  a  base  of  pearly  shells,  upreared  — 
Phosphoric  light,  about  it  played  : 

And  wavy  sprays  of  the  Columbine 
Let  in  the  alternate  light  and  shade, 

As    its   branches   swayed   in    the    soft    moon- 
shine ! 

This  was  the  Fay-King's  Judgment-Seat. 
And,  ranged  about  in  order  meet, 

Above  ;  beneath  ;  on  every  hand, 
With  forms  as  light,  and  steps  as  fleet, 


134  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

As  a  passing  thought,  around  him  stand, 
The  Little  Ones  of  the  Elfin-Land ; 
To  execute  the  high  decree^ 
Of  this  Fairy  Court  of  Chivalry  ! 


V, 

Sometimes  for  revelry  and  sport, 

The  monarch  would  summon  his  fairy-court ; 

And  throned  on  the  Huleh  Lily's  crown, 

In  his  royal  state,  look  gayly  down 

On  the  myriad  forms  that  thronged  to  pass, 

Out  of  brake  and  bush  and  flower ; 
Dancing  merrily  on  the  grass ; 

Making  love  in  the  moonlit-bower ; 
In  brilliant  dress  of  state  arrayed, 

Passing  full  before  his  view ; 
Glancing  out  of  light  and  shade, 

Quick  as  thought,  and  bright  as  dew. 
O  !  but  his  heart  beat  high  with  pride, 
As,  trooping  round  on  every  side, 
His  courtiers  crowd  with  fun  and  glee, 
To  the  chosen  place  of  their  revelry ! 
And  as  the  Lily  waved  to  and  fro, 

To  the  gentle  breath  of  the  evening  breeze ; 
He  would  smile  to  see  them  come  and  go, 

As  they  lead  the  dance  'neath  the  haunted  trees 
His  was  as  gorgeous  a  canopy, 
As  heart  could  wish  or  eye  could  see. 


THE    STORY    OF    LITTLE    THINGS.  135 

For  the  Lily's  petals  of  snowy  white 

Fringed  with  jewels  the  night  had  made, 
Bent  their  arch  of  silvery  light 

Over  his  head  ;  and,  in  their  shade, 
Half-concealed  and  half- displayed, 

His  roguish  eyes,  with  a  merry  gleam, 
The  scene  of  their  romp  and  sport,  surveyed 

As  it  lay  revealed  in  the  bright  moonbeam  ! 


VI. 

Sometimes,  a  fairy's  heart  would  move, 

With  the  tender  thrill  of  human  love. 

They  would  own  the  glance  of  a  maiden's  eye ; 

And  answer  back  her  pensive  sigh. 

They  would  bask  in  the  light  of  her  gentle  smile ; 

And  make  sweet  sport  with  herself,  the  while. 

And  the  elf-lock,  with  its  cunning  curl, 

On  the  brow  where  beauty  lingers, 
Told,  how  many  a  fair-haired  girl, 

Felt  the  touch  of  fairy  fingers  ! 
Some,  with  the  baby-oak,  were  born, 

As  it  burst  the  bonds  of  its  acorn-cup ; 
And  they  came,  with  the  dews  of  Night  and  Morn, 

To  build  its  grand  proportions  up. 
Through  its  years  of  early  life ; 
Through  its  littleness  and  strife ; 
Through  its  growth  of  later  years, 
All  their  ministry  appears. 


136  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

And,  when  fully  formed,  it  stood 

Crowned,  the  Monarch  of  the  Wood ; 

All  its  glory  they  would  share  ; 

Lift  its  branches  high  in  air ; 

And  join  the  swell  of  their  sweet  refrain, 

To  the  whispering  winds  and  the  pattering  rain ! 

O  !  but  a  merry  time  had  they, 

Through  the  long,  long  life  of  the  mountain- 
oak  ! 
For  they  never  grew  old,  and  were  just  as  gay 

Up  to  the  last,  when  the  woodman's  stroke, 
Its  leafy  honors  took  away, 

Or  slow  decay  its  substance  broke. 
Their  lease  of  life  together  ran, 

For  the  Dryads  shared  the  Oak-tree's  state ; 
At  the  same  point,  their  course  began  ; 

At  the  same  point,  they  met  their  fate. 
The  Tree  fell,  headlong,  on  the  plain ; 
The  Dryads  never  moved  again  ! 
Where  no  human  eye  can  see, 

Gnomes  their  secret  way  pursue 
Working  always,  silently, 

But  with  mischief,  still  in  view. 
Ever  finding  their  delight, 
In  all  little  acts  of  spite. 
Salamanders,  in  the  fire, 

Sparkle  with  incessant  glow : 
Growing  brighter  still,  as  higher 

In  the  rising  flames  they  go. 


THE    STORY    OF    LITTLE    THINGS.  137 

And  as  these  their  forms  prolong, 

Deftly  springing  here  and  there : 
Singing-Flames  take  up  the  song, 

Which  they  breathe  upon  the  air !  * 
Rising  up  from  Ocean's  caves, 

Roguish  water-sprites  are  seen  ; 
Yielding,  underneath  the  waves, 

Homage  to  their  Virgin  Queen ! 
Realms  of  beauty,  rich  and  rare, 
Yield  them  habitations  there. 
Brilliant  forms  of  crystal  spar, 
Sparkling  like  the  Northern  Star, 
Arch  the  high  resounding  domes, 
Where  they  make  their  chosen  homes. 
Floors,  where  gems  and  pearls  abound, 

Feel  the  tread  of  fairy-feet ; 
And  the  Coral  groves  resound, 

With  their  music,  soft  and  sweet. 
For  Life  is  busy,  beneath  the  wave ; 

And  forms  of  beauty  meet  us  there, 
In  what  we  would  call  the  Ocean  grave, 

Richer  than  those  of  the  upper  air ! 
And  this  is  my  Story.     Don't  you  see, 

It  comes  as  fresh  as  the  Spring-time  breeze, 

*  Is  not  the  dream  of  Romance  well-nigh  ended?  The 
Poptilar  Science  Monthly  for  April,  1873,  has  a  notice  in  its 
Miscellany,  of  the  Practical  Application  of  Singing-Flames, 
by  Dr.  A.  R.  Irvine  of  the  British  Iron  and  Steel  Institu- 
tion ! 

12* 


138  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

When  it  whispers  its  secrets,  playfully, 

To  the  opening  buds  of  the  waving  trees  ?  " 


VII. 

"  It 's  beautiful,  Grandpa !     But  is  it  true  ? 
/  never  saw  such  sprites  —  did  you  ?  " 

"  No,  my  Darling  !     I  suppose, 

That  Nature  no  such  creatures,  knows. 

But  then,  our  race,  in  its  early  youth, 

Blindly  groping  after  the  truth  ; 

Knew  little  enough,  of  the  God,  whose  power 

Blazed  in  the  Sun,  and  opened  the  Flower: 

And  so,  in  His  place,  they  multiplied 

These  fancied  beings,  with  wondrous  skill ; 

And  with  power  of  working  good  or  ill, 
To  almost  any  extent,  supplied. 
And  yet,  these  dreams  of  wild  romance, 
Of  fairy  sport  and  fun  and  dance ; 
Can  scarce,  with  the  simple  facts  compare, 
Which  press  on  our  notice  everywhere. 
The  Rain  comes  down,  on  the  thirsty  ground 

In  the  gentle  form  of  the  Spring-time  showers ; 
Or  falls  on  the  roof  with  a  pattering  sound ; 

Or  scarcely  shakes-  the  opening  flowers. 
But  no  little  Fay  was  as  cunning  an  Elf, 
As  each  of  its  drops  when  seen  by  itself: 


THE    STORY    OF    LITTLE    THINGS.  139 

For  it  shone  in  the  rays  of  the  morning  light, 
With  a  beam,  like  that  of  the  diamond,  bright ; 
Or  into  the  heart  of  the  rose  would  steal ; 

And,  hiding  away  in  silence  there, 
Would  help  its  beauties  to  reveal 

And  breathe  its  fragrance  out  on  the  air ! 
Or,  it  changed  its  form  as  the  Sun  rose  high, 
And  mounted  in  vapor,  to  sail  through  the  sky;. 
And  over  the  clouds  in  glory,  threw 
The  delicate  tints  of  the  rainbow  hue. 
Or  made  the  wintry  landscape  know 
The  treasures  of  the  falling  snow: 
Or  wreathed  in  many  a  strange  device, 
The  crystal  forms  of  the  sparkling  ice. 

The  Sun  pours  forth  its  beams  of  light; 

But  what  is  it,  that  makes  those  beams  so  bright  ? 

Atoms  of  matter  so  small,  that  we, 

Have  no  power  their  forms  to  see. 

Spreading  away  through  the  thin,  thin  air ; 

Filling  all  space,  with  their  delicate  motion  ; 
Undulating  everywhere ; 

Light  is  the  wave  of  this  Fairy  Ocean. 
And  the  varied  colors  of  things  we  see, 

Tell  us  how  fast  those  wavelets  move ; 
And  how  Little  Things  make  harmony, 

In  all  around,  beneath,  above  ! 
Ages  ago,  the  sunbeams  stole 

Into  the  heart  of  the  growing  tree  ; 


I4O  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

And  now,  shut  up  in  their  beds  of  coal, 

They  wait  for  their  hour  of  liberty ; 
When  —  changing  only  their  proper  names  — 
Those  beams  come  out,  as  frolicksome  flames  ; 
And  up  the  chimney,  dancing  go, 
While  the  house  is  filled  with  the  pleasant  glow ; 
Or  they  draw  the  train,  as  it  speeds  along, 
Urged  by  the  breath  of  the  Sunbeam's  Song ! 

Do  you  know,  as  the  Ocean  heaves  its  tide, 
How  its  secret  strength  is  all  supplied  ? 
Little  Drops,  beyond  all  number, 
In  its  deep  recesses  slumber  : 
Ever  moving  to  and  fro, 
Making  up  its  ebb  and  flow ; 
Murmuring,  in  its  low-voiced  song  ; 

Thundering  in  the  deaf'ning  roar, 
Which  its  swelling  waves  prolong, 

As  they  dash  upon  the  shore  ! 
O  !  the  unseen  power  that  dwells 

In  the  Little  Things  of  Earth  ! 
How  impressively  it  tells 

Of  the  One  who  gave  them  birth ! 
Heaving  in  the  storm-tossed  main ; 
Waving  in  the  ripening  grain  ; 
Sparkling  in  the  sunbeam's  light ; 
Glorying  in  the  tempest's  might ; 
Breathing  perfume  on  the  air  ; 
Living,  acting,  everywhere, 


THE    STORY    OF    LITTLE    THINGS.  14! 

Little  Things  their  work  pursue ; 
Ever  constant,  ever  new  ; 
Writing  their  Creator's  Name, 

In  the  mountain-torrent's  dash  — 
In  the  Lightning's  livid  flame  ; 

In  the  Thunder's  startling  crash. 
In  the  Snow- Flake  ;  in  the  Dew ; 
And,  in  little  toads,  like  you  ! " 


TWILIGHT  MUSINGS. 

THERE  are  voices  softly  ringing, 
I  shall  hear  on  earth  no  more ; 

Tones  of  gentle  music,  singing 
To  me  from  the  Unknown  Shore. 

There  are  footfalls  sounding  near  me, 
But  they  reach  my  ear  alone  ; 

Voices  of  the  past  which  cheer  me, 
With  their  ^ld,  familiar  tone. 

Forms  that  in  the  grave  are  lying 
Move  around  each  path  I  tread. 

They  are  living  yet ;  for  dying 
Does  not  leave  us  truly  dead. 

No  !     Our  real  Life  surviveth 

Even  in  the  act  of  death. 
Resurrection  but  reviveth 

Germs  of  life  that  wait  its  breath. 

142 


TWILIGHT    MUSINGS.  143 

I  am  richer  for  the  union 

With  the  loved  ones  gone  before  ; 
Longing  more  for  the  communion, 

Fuller  Life  shall  yet  restore ! 

May  I  not  believe,  that  loved  ones, 

Who,  from  earth  have  passed  away,' 
Move,  as  angel  forms  about  me  ; 
•     Ministering  on  my  way  ? 

When  the  twilight  shadows  darken  ; 

Still,  small  voices  on  the  air 
Seem  to  make  the  spirit  hearken 

For  the  Footstep  on  the  stair ! 

Is  it  Memory  that  reminds  me, 
Of  Life's  broken  ties  as  such  ? 

Or  the  electric  chain  that  binds  me, 
Answering  to  some  unknown  touch  ? 

Powers  of  worlds  unseen  surround  us ; 

Heaven  is  nearer  than  we  think : 
And  the  waves  of  Life  around  us, 

Fall,  in  murmurs,  on  its  brink  ! 

For,  eternal  things  are  lying 
Hidden  by  the  spray  and  strife 

Dashing  round  us,  here ;  and  dying 
Is  but  birth  to  nobler  life. 


144  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

And  its  surges,  sounding  near  us, 
Tell  us  of  our  Heavenly  Home ; 

Whence,  with  dew-like  thoughts  to  cheer  us, 
Dwellers  there  oft  round  us  come  ! 

And  they  touch  with  unseen  fingers, 

All  the  strings  of  inner  life  ; 
Waking  many  a  thought  which  lingers, 

Sweetly,  'midst  its  din  and  strife. 

When  we  pass  beyond  the  River, 

We  shall  meet  our  loved  ones  there  : 

And  the  forms  that  most  we've  cherished, 
Shall  be  loved  ones,  as  they  were ! 

For  we  stand  outside  the  Portal 
Of  our  Full  Life's  Blessedness : 

When  we  enter  in,  Immortal, 
Shall  our  meed  of  joy  be  less  ? 


THE  STILL  WATERS. 

THERE  is  a  Stream  of  which  I  drink, 

Whose  Living  Water  flows 
Softly,  as  on  its  mossy  brink, 

The  dew-drop,  trembling-,  glows. 

It  does  not  flow  from  springs  of  earth ; 

But,  'midst  the  Eternal  Hills 
On  Sion's  Mount,  it  has  its  birth, 

And  sweetly,  there  distils. 

And  thence,  pervadingly,  it  flows 
Through  pastures  green  and  fair  ; 

Where  Carmel's  Vine,  and  Sharon's  Rose 
Shed  their  best  fragrance  there. 

And  oft,  the  Saviour  comes  unseen, 

And  with  His  sweetest  smile, 
Invites  me  to  these  pastures  green, 

And  bids  me  rest  awhile. 
13  K  J45 


146  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

How  sweet,  how  heavenly  is  the  place ! 

For  all  around,  above, 
Tells  of  the  riches  of  His  grace, 

o  ' 

And  whispers  of  His  love. 

And  calm  and  still,  the  waters  flow ; 

And  as  I  stoop  to  drink, 
Bright  gleams  of  heavenly  radiance  glow 

Upon  the  river's  brink. 

What  are  they  ?    Shinings  forth  of  grace  ; 

Bright  foretastes  from  above, 
Where  Jesus  shows  unveiled  His  face ; 

And  feasts  us  with  His  love. 

And  gently  as  the  evening  dews 

Distil  upon  the  flower : 
The  Living  Water  there,  renews 

The  fainting  spirit's  power. 

Dear  Saviour !  only  lead  me  there 
And  I  shall  learn  from  Thee  ; 

To  walk  amidst  Earth's  darkest  care, 
From  all  distraction  free  ! 


THE  CAPTIVE  EAGLE. 

AN  Eagle,  once  condemned  to  be 
Detained  in  long  captivity ; 
At  length  was  to  be  freed  again. 
'The  owner  broke  the  captive's  chain, 
And  waited  near  to  see  him  rise, 
And  seek  once  more  his  native  skies. 
But  no.     He  seems  to  heed  it  not  : 

Listless,  he  treads  the  little  round 
That  had,  for  years,  described  the  spot 

That  marked  his  chain's  length  on  the  ground. 
And  is  it  so  ?     Is  all  forgot  ? 

Amid  the  ashes  of  Desire 
That  burned  within  him ;  is  there  not 

Some  spark  of  the  once  glowing  fire  ? 
See  !  there 's  a  kindling  of  his  eye, 
With  one  glance  at  his  native  sky. 
One  wing  is  partly  stretched ;  and  then 
Is  folded  to  his  side  again. 
The  other  follows,  at  full  length, 
As  if  he  questioned  of  its  strength ; 

147 


148  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

Then  both,  a  moment  opening  wide, 
Were  quickly  folded  to  his  side. 
But  not  for  long.    Some  power,  suppress'd, 
Seems  to  be  struggling  in  his  breast. 
Visions  of  distant  fields  of  light, 
Are  rising  dimly  on  his  sight : 
And  voices  of  the  far-off  skies, 
Seem  to  be  calling  him  to  rise. 
Upward,  one  kindling  glance  he  threw ; 
Close  to  his  perch,  his  body  drew ; 
Sprang  forward,  as  in  glad  surprise, 
And  sought  once  more,  his  native  skies. 
One  moment,  round  and  round  he  flew, 
In  circles  widening  to  his  view ; 
One  moment  seemed  to  linger  there, 
Before  he  sought  the  upper  air  ; 
Then,  mounting  upward  in  his  flight, 

As  if  all  doubt,  all  fear  was  o'er ; % 
Slowly  he  faded  from  the  sight  — 

The  Captive  Bird  was  free,  once  more ! 

Such  is  the  Christian.     One,  set  free, 
And  called  to  use  his  liberty : 
But  oft,  alas  !  he 's  called  in  vain. 
For  —  like  the  Eagle,  when  his  chain 
At  first  was  broken  —  knowing  not, 

That  faith  in  Jesus  sets  him  free 
From  Sin's  dominion  ;  on  the  spot 

Where  he  obtained  his  liberty, 


THE    CAPTIVE    EAGLE.  149 

He  lingers,  treading  o'er  and  o'er 
A  round  of  duties,  as  before. 
Unconscious  of  his  freedom,  he 
Remains  in  dull  captivity ; 
Careless  of  all  that  bids  him  rise, 
And  spread  his  pinions  for  the  skies. 
The  sweet,  pervading  influence, 

That  dew-like  on  the  soul  distils, 
And  wakens  there,  the  new-born  sense 

Of  Sonship,  as  the  spirit  thrills 
Beneath  the  Saviour's  love  ;  and  we 
Rise,  in  the  perfect  liberty, 
Which  love  imparts,  to  comprehend 
How,  without  measure,  bound,  or  end, 
That  love  exists  for  us  ;'  of  this, 
He  knows  not,  nor  conceives,  the  bliss. 
How  can  he  ?     Can  the 'Eagle  share 
The  keen  delights  of  upper  air, 
While  on  his  perch  he,  idly,  sleeps  ? 
And  can  the  Christian,  while  he  keeps 
His  place,  within  the  broken  chain 
Of  duties  done,  expect  to  gain 
The  consciousness  of  freedom  ?     No. 
Forth  from  such  bondage  he  must  go. 
For,  fields  beyond  the  Eagle's  flight, 

Invite  his  wing  :  and  brighter  skies 
Than  those  illumed  by  earthly  light, 

Call  him  persuasively  to  rise. 
13* 


I5O  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

The  Sense  of  Sonship,  in  the  soul 

Seeks  its  own  origin  to  prove ; 
And  springing  up  from  Law's  control, 

Finds  every  law  fulfilled  in  Love. 
How  high  its  flight !    How  wide  its  reach 
How  deep,  beyond  the  power  of  speech, 
Its  peace  extends  !     How  pure  the  air, 
That  floats  around  the  spirit,  there ; 
And,  in  its  inspiration,  brings 
A  feeling  like  a  sense  of  wings, 
Prompting  the  soul  to  rise  and  prove 
The  pure  delights  of  perfect  Love  ! 


EPIGRAM. 

On  hearing  a  friend  of  the  Rev.  complain  of  his 

starving  salary. 

I  OWN  it  is  hard:  and  I  feel  it  afresh  ; 

Still,  Candor  the  true  reason  owns. 
If  his  people  persist  in  refusing  him  flesh, 

It 's  because  he  will  feed  them  with  bones. 


A  PARABLE. 

As  the  Sun  looked  out  from  the  Eastern  sky, 
The  Violet  raised  its  deep-blue  eye-; 
And  in  soft  and  whispered  accents  said, 
While  the  dew-drop  bent  its  delicate  head  — 

This  drop  of  dew, 

I  have  kept  for  you, 
Through  all  the  darkness  of  the  night ; 
Now,  shine  and  make  my  dew-drop  bright ; 

Bright  for  Thyself,  O  Sun! 
And  the  Sunbeam  entered  the  drop  of  dew,  - 
Trembling  there  in  the  Violet  blue ; 
And  it  grew  as  bright  as  the  costly  gem, 
That  shines  in  the  monarch's  diadem  ! 


The  Morning  passed ;  and  the  drop  of  dew 
Sparkled  no  more,  in  the  eye  of  blue ; 
For  the  Sunbeam  kissed  it  all  away. 
Yet  still,  the  Violet  seemed  to  say, 


152  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

/  am  not  alone, 

Though  my  dew-drop  is  gone  : 
For  the  fragrance  it,  lovingly  wrought  in  me, 
I  yield  as  my  best  return  to  Thee  ; 

For  Thy  grace  to  me,  O  Sun  ! 
And  the  Sun  smiled  back,  as  he  strove  to  lift 
Up  to  himself  the  Violet's  gift ; 
But,  ere  he  could  do  it,  the  perfumed  air 
Told  of  its  secret  everywhere. 

The  Summer  passed  ;  and  out  of  sight, 
The  Violet  sank  for  the  Winter's  night. 
But  the  Autumn  leaves  above  its  head, 
Rustling  to  the  wild  wind's  tread, 
Heard  her  words,  as  she  softly  said, 

Though  I  'm  out  of  sight, 

For  the  Winter  s  night, 

Thou  wilt  bring  me  forth  again  to  the  light ; 
And  again,  Thou  wilt  make  my  dew-drop  bright, 

Bright  for  Thyself,  O  Sun  ! 
I  will  bring  thee  forth,  the  Sun  replied, 
As  the  Violet  bowed  her  head  and  died  ; 
And  the  South  Wind  for  her  burial  sighed. 


INSCRIPTION  ON  A  SUN-DIAL. 

Non  nutnero  Jioras  nisi  serenas. 

A  DIAL,  bearing  this  device 

Attracts  the  traveller's  view : 
Teaching  in  sounding  phrase,  a  thought, 

More  specious  far  than  true  : 
/  number  not  the  passing  hours, 

Unless  the  sun  be  shining  :  — 
Forgetting,  that  Life's  loveliest  flowers, 

Are  in  the  shade  reclining. 

A  Day  is  born.     But  when  the  Night 

Has  closed  its  little  round : 
We  find,  that  hours  both  dark  and  bright, 

Have  joined  to  mark  its  round. 
And  Life  records  its  total  sum, 

Not  by  the  bright  hours  only ; 
But  by  rehearsing  all  that 's  done 

In  times  both  bright  and  lonely. 

The  sweetest  flowers  are  never,  those 
Beneath  a  cloudless  sky : 

153 


154  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

The  Lily,  Violet  and  Rose, 
Would  wither  there  and  die. 

And  all  Life's  loveliest  graces  are 
By  the  same  Law  unfolded  ; 

And  yield  their  richest  fragrance,  where 
'Neath  shady  skies  they  're  moulded. 

The  Diamond  flashes  in  the  light, 

And  yields  a  softer  ray  ; 
E'en  when  the  darkness  of  the  night 

Has  quite  shut  out  the  day. 
But  yet,  the  brilliant  gem  had  birth 

Not  where  the  sunbeam  found  it ; 
But  in  the  gloomy  caves  of  earth, 

With  deepest  night  around  it. 

The  Pearl,  before  the  noonday  light 

Displays  its  loveliest  hue  : 
But  't  was  in  darkness  and  in  night, 

Its  glorious  beauties  grew. 
For,  by  a  process  none  can  tell, 

All  sun,  all  light  excluded ; 
Its  birthplace  is  the  oyster's  shell, 

By  slow  degrees  exuded. 

To  the  warm  sunshine's  genial  ray, 
Each  flower-bud  makes  reply ; 

And  gives  its  hue  and  fragrance  way, 
Beneath  the  summer-sky. 


INSCRIPTION    ON    A    SUN-DIAL.  155 

But  yet,  those  hidden  secrets  were 

Within  the  bud  preparing ; 
And  cloudy  skies  and  sunny  hours, 

Are  but  its  work  declaring. 

The  Day  has  glories  of  the  Light 

Oft  seen  yet  ever  new ; 
But  grander  still  are  those  which  Night 

Discloses  to  our  view; 
And  while  Life  oft,  seems  out  of  tune, 

We  '11  reverently  remember, 
The  Year  that  brings  us  flowers  in  June, 

Has  frost  for  its  December. 

Our  Life  has  many  a  summer  sky, 

On  which  no  cloud  appears ; 
And  Hope  shines  bright  in  many  an  eye, 

That  ne'er  was  wet  with  tears. 
But,  when  we  would  its  sum  disclose, 

And  its  attainments  single  ; 
We  find  its  grandest  deeds  are  those 

Where  Clouds  and  Sunshine  mingle. 

We  will  not  murmur  then  ;  nor  wish 

Our  sky  was  always  bright : 
But  number  still,  Life's  varied  hours, 

Though  some  are  in  the  night. 
And,  let  us  ne'er  this  truth  forget, 

Nor  yield  to  hopeless  sorrow : 
That  though  to-day  our  Sun  be  set, 

'T  will  rise  ao-ain  to-morrow  ! 


THE   WHITE    STONE. 

"  To  him  that  overcometh,  mill  I  give     .     .     .     .   a,  -white  stone,  and  in  the  stone 
a  new  name  -written,  -which  no  man  knoweth,  saving  lie  that  recervetlt  it." 

EACH  man  has  his  own  history,  formed  and  moulded, 

As  are  the  Spring-time  leaves, 
Within  the  autumn  buds ;  and  thence,  unfolded, 
By  powers  he  scarce  perceives. 

That  history  is  unwritten.     None  can  render 

Its  workings  into  speech ; 
Or  tell,  how  far  in  all  that 's  deep  or  tender, 

The  chords  of  Nature  reach. 

But  deep  within,  we  feel  their  low  vibrations, 

Each  for  himself  alone ; 
And  thrill  beneath  the  touch  of  aspirations, 

By  others  all  unknown. 

God  hears  their  silent  workings :  for  He  readeth 

Each  thought  of  every  soul : 
And  gives  Himself,  as  every  one  most  needeth 

In  fulness  for  the  whole. 

156 


THE    WHITE    STONE.  157 

He  still  is  One  ;  but  in  His  benedictions, 

Is  not  the  same  to  all. 
He  suits  Himself  to  each,  with  such  restrictions, 

As  answer  to  their  call. 

All  flowers  live  in  the  Sun ;  and  each  appealeth, 

For  its  own  special  hue : 
And  each,  in  its  full  beauty,  but  revealeth, 

What,  from  His  beams,  it  drew. 

In  light,  in  heat,  and  in  full  rainbow-splendors, 

Those  beams  around  it  play ; 
But  each  receiveth,  only  what  it  renders, 

Back  to  the  Eye  of  Day ! 

It  comprehends  no  more ;  and  its  appealing 

Is  for  that  hue  alone. 
And  Leaf,  Bud,  Petal  are  alike  revealing, 

How  each  the  light  has  known. 

And  thus,  all  creatures  have  in  God,  their  being ; 

Each  in  His  fulness  lives. 
But  not  alike,  are  we  His  glories  seeing, 

And  not  alike  He  gives. 

You  may  not  read  what  God,  to  me,  is  showing 

When  I  His  fulness  prove ; 
Nor  may  another  drink  the  stream,  whose  flowing 

To  you  bears  Light  and  Love. 

The  new  name  hath  its  secrets  ;  which  he  knoweth 
To  whom  that  name  is  given : 


158  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

And  to  that  secret  each  believer  groweth, 
And  in  it  finds  his  heaven. 

His  unexpandcd  heaven,  whose  full  unfolding 

His  future  Life  shall  be ; 
And  here,  his  spirit,  blossom-like,  is  moulding, 

Into  its  symmetry. 

For  each  one  is  his  name ;  and  comprehendeth, 

Not  all  that  Jesus  is  ; 
But  what  a  kindred  nature  apprehendeth, 

By  making  truly  his. 

That  name  is  but  the  measure  of  the  union, 

We  have  with  Jesus'  love ; 
The  rich  foretasting  of  that  sweet  communion, 

Awaiting  us  above ! 

God  calls  us  by  it ;  and  its  meaning  rises, 

Upon  the  spirit's  sight 
In  gradual  unfolding;  and  surprises 

With  strange,  new-born,  delight. 

For  we  perceive  that  meaning,  to  our  measure 

Of  victory  over  sin  ; 
And  all  beyond,  is  but  an  unknown  treasure, 

Lying  concealed  within. 

O  !  for  the  peace  that  comes  from  this  revealing  ; 

When,  quivering  through  the  frame, 
The  soul  in  its  deep  consciousness  is  feeling, 

The  secret  of  its  name ! 


FELLOWSHIP. 

THERE  is  a  Harp  of  countless  strings 

In  Nature's  works  around  us  ; 
And  rich  the  music  that  it  brings, 

When  earthly  cares  surround  us. 
Its  sweetest  tones  may  peal  around, 

Unheard  by  outward  senses  ; 
But  reach  us,  in  the  calm  profound 

Of  dew-like  influences. 

There  's  music  in  the  rustling  trees, 

And  in  the  sky-lark's  soaring ; 
Sweet  music  in  the  evening  breeze, 

And  in  the  Ocean's  roaring. 
There  's  music  in  the  varied  tones 

Of  animals  that  love  us  ; 
Grand  music  in  the  solemn  march 

Of  suns  and  stars,  above  us. 

The  Daisy  lifts  its  dew-lit  eyes, 
In  Nature's  deep  communing ; 

To  the  sweet  light  of  far-off  skies, 
Its  inward.growth  attuning. 

159 


I6O  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

Millions  of  miles  those  sunbeams  came, 
Their  light  with  all  things  sharing; 

Yet  life  and  strength  and  healthful  growth. 
To  this  frail  floweret  bearing. 

So,  we  too,  stand  'mid  countless  powers, 

Whose  influences  surround  us  ; 
And  waken  thoughts,  like  summer  flowers, 

Above,  beneath,  around  us. 
From  every  object  round  us,  we 

New  impulses  may  borrow  ; 
And  answer  back  the  minstrelsy, 

Of  Nature's  joy  and  sorrow. 

There 's  music,  sweeter  far  than  this : 

Though  this  is  near  the  portals 
Of  something  like  the  sweetest  bliss, 

That  God  has  given  to  mortals. 
Yet,  't  is  the  portals  only ;  and 

We  must  the  building  enter ; 
Ere  we  can  hear  the  solemn,  grand, 

Rich,  music  of  the  centre. 

It  comes,  in  tones  of  sympathy 
For  all,  our  nature  sharing; 

And  claims  an  interest,  large  and  free, 
In  every  want  they  're  sharing. 

It 's  not  in  nation  ;  not  in  race ; 
It 's  not  in  outward  station. 


FELLOWSHIP.  I6l 

It 's  founded  solely,  on  the  place, 
God  gave  it  in  Creation. 

We  read  it  there ;  and  own  the  claim 

He  meant  it  to  engender ; 
And,  for  the  love  of  His  dear  Name, 

Whate'er  it  calls  for,  render. 
It  is  the  pulse  of  the  "  one  blood," 

Our  common  nature  filling; 
The  under-tones  of  brotherhood, 

With  low,  deep  music  thrilling. 

We  move  among  the  mighty  dead, 

Who  long  have  gone  before  us ; 
And  seem  to  feel  the  silent  tread 

Of  ages  passing  o'er  us. 
We  think  their  thoughts ;  their  hopes  renew ; 

Revive  their  aspirations ; 
And  feel  our  pulses  thrill  anew, 

With  their  best  inspirations. 

There  's  yet  a  purer  joy  than  this. 

'Tis  in  the  soul  upspringing, 
Like  waters  in  the  wilderness, 

Or  birds,  in  deserts,  singing. 
A  Peace  and  Joy  which  freely  flow, 

E'en  when  we're  tempest-driven ; 
But  which  they  only,  come  to  know, 

Whose  fellowship  's  in  Heaven. 

14*  L 


l62  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

It  is  the  spirit's  full  accord 

With  all  that  God  has  spoken  : 
The  harmony  of  thought  and  word, 

By  no  one  discord  broken. 
Not  that  his  reason  comprehends  ; 

But  that  his  heart  approveth  ; 
And  the  best  reason  meets  and  blends, 

In  him  who  truly  loveth. 

There  may  not  be  an  utterance  heard, 

To  mark  the  soul-communing ; 
But  O  !  its  deepest  depths  are  stirred, 

As  harp-strings  are,  in  tuning. 
And  thence,  in  musical  accord, 

Its  varied  powers  are  waking ; 
And,  with  sweet  music  to  the  Lord, 

Its  melody  is  making. 

The  Lamp,  that  burns  with  perfumed  oil, 

Sheds  sweetest  light  around  it  ; 
And  Faith  is  brightest,  while  the  toil 

And  cares  of  Life  surround  it. 
For,  deep  within  the  soul,  the  light, 

Of  heavenly  truth  is  burning ; 
And  songs  are  sweetest  when  the  night 

Of  Grief,  to  Joy  is  turning. 


THE  DEAD  CHRIST.* 

THE  work  of  Death,  at  last,  is  done, 
And  Jesus  sleeps,  in  calm  repose : 

The  circle  of  His  life  is  run, 

In  seeming  triumph  for  His  foes. 

He  sleeps  in  death,  who  came  to  prove 

The  fulness  of  eternal  love. 

Approach.     And,  as  you  venture  near, 
To  gaze  with  reverence  on  the  dead, 

Tread  softly  ;  for  the  Sleeper  here, 
Seems  to  be  resting  on  His  bed. 

You  scarce  can  think,  repose  so  deep, 

Can  be  aught  else  than  healthful  sleep. 

A  veil  is  gently  o'er  Him  thrown ; 

So  gently,  that  you  seem  to  see 
Through  it ;  and,  on  the  sculptured  stone, 

To  trace  the  spotless  purity, 

*  The  veiled  Statue  of  The  Dead  Christ,  in  the  family  chapel 
of  S.  Maria  della  Pieta  de  Sangri,  Naples,  is  a  work  of  won- 
derful power.  Indeed,  there  is  no  piece  of  statuary  in  the 
city,  that  can  be  justly  compared  with  it. 

'63 


164  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

That,  halo-like,  shone  round  His  head, 
And  lingers  sweetly  o'er  the  Dead. 

The  Crown  of  Thorns  lies  by  His  feet ; 

The  Hammer  and  the  Nails  are  there ; 
The  instruments  of  Death,  complete, 

The  story  of  the  Cross  declare. 
His  wounded  hands  and  feet  and  side, 

Repeat  to  us  how  Jesus  died. 

• 

Of  His  mysterious  agony 

There  rests  no  trace  upon  His  brow 
In  glorious  tranquillity, 

The  Dead  Christ  sleeps  before  you  now ; 
You  see  the  lines  in  form  and  face, 
That  Death  alone  has  power  to  trace. 

Yes,  Death  ;  but  something  more.    Alone, 
Death  could  not  cause  what,  here,  you  see. 

The  sculptor's  art  has  made  the  stone 
Speak  to  us  of  the  mystery 

Of  Him  who  thus  in  death  could  lie, 

And  yet,  in  death  do  more  than  die. 

Do  more  ?  Yes.    Had  He  not  full  power 

Over  His  life,  to  hold  it  still 
Against  all  foes  ;  or  at  the  hour, 

To  lay  it  down  of  His  own  will  ? 


THE    DEAD    CHRIST.  165 

And  this  high  purpose  seems  to  speak, 
From  His  calm  brow  and  pallid  cheek. 

He  seemed  a  victim.     Was  He  ?     No ! 

For  Jesus  acted  in  His  death  : 
He  gave  His  Spirit  leave  to  go ; 

And  willed  His  own  departing  breath. 
Christ  was  not  passive  when  He  died : 
The  Conqueror  was  The  Crucified ! 

You  gaze  ;  and  feel  the  sculptor's  art 
Throw  its  strong  spell  upon  the  soul : 

Till,  captive  both  in  mind  and  heart, 
You  yield  yourself  to  its  control 

And  feel  —  for  words,  here,  ask  no  breath  — 

This,  this  is  Jesiis  in  His  death  ! 

All-conquering  Saviour  !  In  the  light 
Of  this  Thy  wondrous  love  to  me ; 

Earth's  shadows  grow  divinely  bright, 
And  love  blooms  into  liberty. 

Sin  cannot  reign  within  the  soul, 

That  lives  within  Thy  strong  control. 

I  gaze,  in  awe  and  wonder,  till 

The  great  conception  fires  my  soul : 

And  wakes,  with  its  electric  thrill, 

A  deathless  love,  whose  strong  control 

Brings  every  thought,  with  sweet  accord, 

To  wait  in  service,  on  its  Lord. 


AN  AUTUMN  RAMBLE. 

IT  was  a  day 

Of  Autumn's  choicest  beauty.     The  fair  Earth 
Lay  like  a  garden,  in  the  smile  of  Heaven. 
The  sky  was  cloudless :  and  September's  sun 
Looked  forth,  in  gentle  gladness,  as  its  beams 
Danced  on  the  ripples  of  the  murmuring  stream  ; 
Or  wooed  the  wild-bee  from  its  home,  to  sip 
The  sweets,  that  lingered  in  the  fading  flowers. 
The  wind  scarce  swayed  the  clover's  leaf,  or  shook 
The  dew-drops  from  the  fern  ;  yet  bush  and  brake 
Dropped,  silently,  their  sere  leaves  to  the  ground. 
The  flocks  and  herds  had  cropped  their  morning 

meal, 

And  sought  repose  beneath  the  spreading  trees. 
The  wild  birds  carolled  gayly  in  the  woods ; 
And  the  deep  calm  of  purity  and  peace, 
Investing  Nature  like  an  atmosphere, 
Broke  on  the  troubled  passions  of  the  soul, 
Like  the  first  sunbeam  through  the  parting  clouds. 

I  had  been  musing  on  the  Life  of  Man, 
The  history  of  Nations,  and  the  end, 

1 66 


AN    AUTUMN    RAMBLE.  l6/ 

Which,  in  the  cycle  of  revolving  years, 

Returns  alike  for  both  ;  and  I  went  forth 

To  hold  communion  in  the  woodland  shade, 

With  the  deep  mysteries  of  the  Universe, 

To  draw  instruction  from  the  falling-  leaf, 

The  change  of  seasons,  and  the  flight  of  time  ! 

There  is  an  eloquence  in  Nature's  voice, 

Whene'er  we  list  her  teachings.     She  may  speak, 

In  the  soft  zephyr  of  the  Summer's  eve ; 

Thunder  in  Tempests  ;  murmur  in  the  breeze  ; 

Or  woo  us,  in  her  gentlest  tones,  to  read 

The  lessons  she  inscribes  on  all  her  works. 

And  thus,  she  meets  us,  in  the  deep,  calm,  wood  ; 

And  in  its  stillness,  finds  a  voice,  which  speaks 

Of  the  Eternity  of  Change,  which  seems 

The  Vital  Spirit  of  the  Universe. 

I  wandered  on,  in  silence ;  and  the  scene 

Grew  eloquent  in  wisdom.     At  my  feet, 

The  grasshopper  chirped  forth  its  morning  song ; 

Rejoicing  in  the  consciousness  of  life, 

Even  in  the  season  that  insured  its  doom. 

The  butterfly  flew  onward  in  my  path ; 

And  paused  a  moment,  on  the  withered  leaves ; 

The  beauteous  Emblem  of  Immortal  Life, 

Reposing  on  the  subjects  of  decay. 

Beside  me  lay  a  fallen  Tree,  which  once, 

Lifted  its  branches  'mid  the  noblest  there  ; 

Perhaps  had  towered  above  them ;  fof  it  spoke 


l68  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

E'en  in  its  present  overthrow,  of  strength 

Superior  to  its  fellows.     But  the  axe 

Had  brought  its  leafy  honors  to  the  ground. 

Its  leaves  had  mingled  with  the  earth,  which  gave 

Their  texture  and  their  beauty.     One  by  one, 

The  hand  of  Time  had  torn  its  limbs  away, 

And  'reft  it  of  its  substance  ;  which  became 

A  portion  of  the  sod  on  which  it  lay, 

And  blossomed  in  the  wild  flower  by  its  side. 

Life,  leaf,  limb,  substance,  all  were  gone ;  but  yet, 

Its  form  remained  as  witness  of  the  past. 

Its  form  alone  ;  the  traveller's  gentlest  touch 

Might  crush  it  to  the  dust.    But  there  it  lay, 

Lifeless  and  withered ;  yet  the  source  of  life, 

To  much  that  grew  around  it,  and  to  all 

That  grew  upon  it ;  for  the  lapse  of  time 

Had  called  fresh  beauties  from  its  withered  trunk  ; 

New  forms  of  life  adorned  it.     Rich,  green  moss 

Enclosed  it,  like  a  vestment.    Fair,  young  flowers 

Too  slight,  e'en  for  the  dew-drop's  weight,  came 

forth, 

And,  in  their  delicate  beauty,  seemed  to  smile, 
That  Life  could  triumph  by  its  own  decay. 

And  such  is  Human  Destiny.     The  fate 
Of  all  that  live,  is  figured  in  that  tree. 
The  countless  members  of  the  Human  Race, 
Spring  into  being  ;  act  their  part,  and  die. 


AN    AUTUMN    RAMBLE.  169 

But  Time  renews  them.    From  their  ashes  spring 
Beings  of  other  mould ;  and  that  which  they 
Had  taken  from  the  general  mass  of  life, 
They  pay  again,  when  they  bequeath  their  dust, 
To  nourish  other  beings,  who  in  turn, 
Even  in  their  dissolution,  still  become 
Fountains  of  active  life.     And  thus  the  wheel 
Of  Destiny  rolls  onward ;  and  men  die, 
Yet  live  in  those  who  follow  them,  and  make 
A  portion  of  the  Future  as  the  Past. 
The  nations  of  past  ages  are  no  more  ; 
Or  live,  in  the  remembrance  of  those  minds 
Which  made  their  names  immortal  and  shall  bear 
Their  fame  and  glory  through  all  coming  time. 
Their   roots   struck   deeply,  and   their   branches 

spread, 

And  shadowed  other  nations ;  yet  they  fell, 
Like  a  Colossus,  by  the  hand  of  Time 
In  the  vast  Sea  of  Being.     Where  they  stood 
Others  have  risen,  nourished  by  their  strength ; 
And,  like  those  flowerets,  on  that  withered  trunk, 
Attained  their  life,  amid  decay  and  death. 

And  is  this  all  ?     Is  there  no  hope  beyond  ? 
Is  man  to  be  resolved  in  such  a  doom  ? 
Shall  we  collect  a  handful  of  his  dust ; 
And  scattering  it  upon  the  breeze,  exclaim 
This  much  remains  —  no  more  / 
15 


MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

No  more,  indeed, 

We  read  on  Nature's  page.    But  there  's  a  Voice 
That  whispers  to  us  —  "  Man  shall  never  die. 
I  am  the  Resurrection  and  the  Life  !  " 
And  they  who  sleep  in  Him,  shall  live  again 
In  blessedness,  that  knows  of  no  decay ; 
And  Nature  shall  put  on  her  Spring-time  robes  ; 
And  Autumn's  breath  shall  scatter  them  no  more  ! 


"  THOU  SETTEST  ME  BEFORE  THY  FACE 
FOREVER." 

AND  is  it  so  ?     Amidst  the  blaze 
Of  all  the  countless  worlds  I  see ; 

O  !  does  my  Heavenly  Father's  gaze 
Turn  with  a  glance  of  love  to  me  ? 

Yes  ;  in  His  Word  these  lines  I  trace  — 

"  Thou  settest  me  before  Thy  Face  !  " 

"  Thou  settest  me."     And  who  shall  dare, 

Remove  me  from  that  glorious  place  ? 
Or  from  my  state  of  favor  there, 

Conceal  the  smilings  of  Thy  face? 
Thy  hand  hath  set  me  ;  and  until 
Some  stronger  hand,  some  mightier  will 
Than  Thine  is  found,  I  shall  abide, 
Secure  whatever  may  betide  ! 

"  Thou  settest  me  "  —  not  for  an  hour, 

Or  peradventure  to  remain  ; 
But,  by  Thy  love's  constraining  power, 

That  place  forever  to  maintain. 

171 


MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

Unchangeably  Thy  people  prove 
Thy  sovereign  and  eternal  love; 
And,  by  the  triumphs  of  Thy  grace, 
Forever  dwell  before  Thy  face  ! 

"  Thou  settest  me  "  —  Almighty  Lord  ! 
It  needs  such  records  of  Thy  word ; 
Such  plain,  undoubted  truths  to  prove, 
This  triumph  of  Thy  sovereign  love ! 
"  Me  "  —  in  each  moment  of  my"  life  ; 
Each  scene  of  triumph  and  of  strife ; 
"  Me  "  —  in  each  sorrow,  joy  or  care 
Thy  love  appoints  my  soul  to  bear ; 
Alike,  if  joy's  ecstatic  thrill 
Or  sorrow's  pang  my  bosom  fill : 
In  every  scene  whate'er  it  be, 

I  read  the  record  of  Thy  grace  ;t 
In  Life ;  In  Death  ;  Eternally  — 

"  Thou  settest  me  before  Thy  Face  !  " 


TO  A  FRIEND  ON  HIS  ORDINATION. 

You  'VE  gained  the  end,  My  Youthful  Friendr 

Which  long,  you  've  been  pursuing  ; 
And  now,  before  you  further  go, 

Let  us  your  path  be  viewing. 
Its  points  and  bearings  let  us  trace  ; 

Where  lies  each  special  danger; 
That,  when  it  comes  indeed,  the  case 

May  be  to  you,  no  stranger. 

O  !  't  is  a  glorious  work,  on  which 

You  now  are  called  to  enter  ; 
A  work,  on  which  each  thought  and  wish 

And  plan  in  life  should  centre. 
There  is  no  work  so  grand,  if  you 

But  rightfully  pursue  it  ; 
Nor  aught  that  works  so  false  a  life 

For  those  who  wrongly  view  it. 


Therefore  be  honest  with  thyself; 
And  now,  that  you  've  attained  it, 

15* 


174  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

Seek  only  how  you  may  promote 
His  glory  who  ordained  it. 

Be  true  to  that,  as  Paul  was  true, 
With  high  and  pure  devotion  ; 

And  keep  your  little  self  from  view, 
Nor  heed  its  slightest  motion. 

All  canting  phrase  and  pious  talk, 

Hold  in  deep  detestation  : 
Remembering,  't  is  your  daily  walk, 

That  speaks  your  vindication. 
'T  is  what  you  are  that  ends  the  strife 

About  the  truth,  you  're  preaching : 
And  men  will  heed  a  Christ-like  life 

That  spurn  all  other  preaching. 

Exact  not  from  your  fellow-men, 

The  Shibboleth  of  party ; 
But  let  all  truth  find  you  its  friend ; 

Open,  sincere  and  hearty. 
Whate'er  it  calls  for,  freely  speak ; 

And  calmly  stand  beside  it : 
Truth's  resurrection-power  will  seek 

A  place  where  none  can  hide  it. 

Seek  not  to  gain  the  foremost  place ; 

But  take  the  lowliest  station, 
Where  you  may  do  the  Master's  work, 

And  gain  His  approbation, 


TO    A    FRIEND    ON    HIS    ORDINATION.  175 

/  serve,  is  nobler  than  /  rule, 

Though  men  may  not  believe  it ; 

And  they  stand  first  in  Jesus'  school, 
Who  lovingly  receive  it. 

On  service  then,  not  power  or  place, 

Is  true  distinction  founded  ; 
And  all  the  best  rewards  of  grace, 

By  labors,  most,  are  bounded  ; 
Perhaps  on  Life's  most  active  fields  ; 

Perhaps  of  calm  endurance ; 
Wherever  placed,  Grace  always  yields 

This  fruit  of  its  assurance. 

O  !  do  not  think  success  in  Life, 

By  outward  marks  decided. 
He  gains  it  most,  who,  in  the  strife, 

By  Truth  alone  is  guided. 
Would  you  succeed  ?     The  winner's  place, 

By  righteous  judgment  warded  ; 
Will  be  for  him,  who  runs  the  race, 

By  Faith  and  Patience  guarded  ! 

The  crown  at  last  decks  many  a  brow, 
Who  dreams  not  what  he 's  wearing  ; 

And  they  are  oft  the  lowliest,  now 
Who  noblest  gifts  are  sharing. 

But  Pride  so  mingles  with  the  race, 
Where,  least,  you  think  to  find  it ; 


MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

That  Self-Assertion  wins  the  place, 
While  Merit  lags  behind  it. 

No  human  hand  can  hold  the  scales, 

That  character  is  weighed  in  ; 
And  oft,  the  feeling  most  prevails, 

That  least  we  make  parade  in. 
Therefore  let  Truth  and  Justice  lead  ; 

Put  Jesus  in  the  centre  ; 
And  let  no  thought  go  out  in  deed, 

But  what  through  Him  may  enter. 

The  Bishop's  office  you  '11  revere  ; 

But  seek  not  to  attain  it. 
For  lofty  station  few  can  bear, 

E'en  when  they  rightly  gain  it. 
The  Mitre  and  the  Crown  of  Thorns, 

Are  scarce  one  spirit  sharing ; 
And  he  whose  brow  the  first  adorns, 

Not  oft,  the  last  is  wearing. 
»  i 

All  honor  to  their  glorious  names, 

Who,  in  this  lofty  station, 
Made  life,  in  every  deed,  proclaim 

A  true  soul's  vindication  ! 
White;  Griswold;  Potter;  Johns  and  Meade; 

— Thank  God !  that  we  have  known  such  ! 
Thrice  blest,  if  in  our  hour  of  need, 

We  shall  again  be  shown  such ! 


TO    A    FRIEND    ON    HIS    ORDINATION. 

Whate'er  it  costs,  preach  thou  the  Word, 

As  governed  by  the  preaching  ; 
And  hearts  shall,  everywhere,  be  stirred, 

Responsive  to  the  teaching. 
Preach  ;  as  a  man  that  truly,  knows 

The  Gospel's  inspiration. 
Preach  ;  as  a  man  whose  spirit  glows, 

With  Christ  and  His  Salvation. 

O  !  't  is  in  grand  and  stirring  times, 

The  Master  bids  you  serve  Him : 
And  he,  who  now  would  do  His  work, 

To  earnest  toil  must  nerve  him. 
Therefore  be  strong  :  for  duties  wait. 

Be  calm  :  for  they  may  try  thee. 
And  the  Lord  whose  work  you  do,  will  still, 

With  strength  for  each  supply  thee  ! 

Stand  ;  where  the  old  Reformers  stood ; 

Nor  fear  to  take  their  station. 
The  Cause  for  which  they  shed  their  blood, 

May  need  thy  attestation. 
Stand  for  the  Truth;  and  when  He  comes, 

Whose  standard  thou  art  bearing : 
As  thou  hast  borne  the  Cross,  thou  shalt 

A  Crown  of  Life  be  wearing ! 


THE  VISION  OF  LOVE. 

Delivered  before  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George,  at  their 
Centennial  Anniversary,  April  23,  1872. 

I  FELL  asleep,  the  other  day : 

—  At  least  I  did  to  outward  seeming  — 
And  while  I  thus,  unconscious  lay, 

By  some  strange  chance  I  fell  to  dreaming ; 
And  as  to  form  my  visions  grew, 
They  took  the  following  shape  and  hue  : 

It  is  said  when  the  World  was  just  fresh  in  the  smile 

Of  its  youthful  existence,  tho'  blooming  and  fair, 
It  reposed  in  the  light  of  its  Maker  the  while, 

Young  Love  had  not  smiled  yet,  and  sadness 

was  there. 
When  lo  !  from  the  Ocean,  one  bright,  sunny  day, 

A  vision  of  Glory  arose  on  the  sight : 
It  burst  forth  from  the  waves,  in  their  turbulent  play, 

And  shed  round  them  the  splendor  of  beauty  and 

light. 

178 


THE    VISION    OF    LOVE.  1/9 

O  !  fair  was  her  form  as  it  floated  along ; 

And  brightly  the  rainbow  glanced  forth  from  the 

spray ; 

And  the  waves  seemed  to  murmur  an  eloquent  song 
As  they  fell  'neath  her  footsteps  and  vanished 

away. 
Hope  tended  her  pathway,  and  Peace  followed 

near 

,  There  was  Joy  all  around  her  and  Glory  above  ; 
And  the  eye  that  beheld  her,  though  dimmed  with 

a  tear, 

Grew  bright  'neath  the  glance  of  the  Goddess 
of  Love  ! 

And  thus  from  the  waves  of  the  Ocean  of  Life, 

Love  rises  in  beauty  and  gladness,  to  throw 
Her  charm  o'er  the  waters  of  sorrow  and  strife 

And  spread  o'er  their  darkness  her  beautiful 

Bow. 
The  sorrows  that  darken  ;  the  passions  that  blight ; 

Each  hope  and  each  feeling,  all  yield  to  her  sway ; 
And  the  brow  that  would  else,  have  been  shrouded 
in  night, 

Is  bright  with  the  radiance  that  beams  on  her  way ! 

Such  was  my  dream.     And  as  I  woke, 

With  sudden  start,  the  spell  that  bound  me, 

At  once,  like  some  fair  mirror  broke, 

And  left  its  shining  fragments  round  me. 


ISO  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

But  on  their  surface,  I  could  trace 

Glimpses  of  truth,  so  brightly  shining, 
That  they  may  fitly,  claim  a  place, 

In  this,  the  wreath  that  here  I  'm  twining, 
For  the  bright  memories,  which  to-day, 
In  every  bosom  move  and  play ! 
And  what  would  life  be,  were  it  not 

For  the  strange  Instinct,  from  above  ; 
Which,  from  the  waves  of  every  lot, 

Calls  forth  the  radiant  form  of  Love  ? 
Love  of  our  Country !     How,  to-day 

In  every  heart  its  fires  are  burning  ! 
How  to  that  dear  Land,  far  away, 

Our  fondest  thoughts  and  prayers  are  turn- 
ing! 

How  Memory,  with  its  magic  touch, 
Revives  the  scenes  we  love  so  much ; 
And  brings  before  the  spirit's  view, 
What  only  spirit  can  renew. 
Our  Father's  House  —  the  home  where  we 
Passed  the  bright  days  of  Infancy  — 
We  see  it  yet,  in  all  the  glow, 
Which  Childhood's  recollections  throw 
Around  the  much-loved  spot.     Again 
We  live  the  life  that  charmed  us  then  ; 
Thrill  with  our  Childhood's  hopes  and  fears  ; 
Weep,  once  again,  our  Childhood's  tears  ; 
Our  School-boy  mischief,  all  renew ; 
And  share  the  fun,  and —  thrashings,  too  ! 


THE    VISION    OF    LOVE.  l8l 

Once  more,  around  our  Mother's  knee, 
—  God's  best  and  earliest  Temple,  —  we 
Kneel,  with  clasped  hands  and  reverent  air, 
To  say,  once  more,  our  Childhood's  prayer. 
Alas  !  that  from  Life's  later  day, 
Those  words,  so  much,  should  pass  away  ! 
Land  of  our  Fathers  !  still  to  Thee, 

Though  the  wide  Ocean  rolls  between, 
Our  love  holds  fast  its  loyalty 

And  keeps  Thy  memory  in  us  green  ! 
We  love  to  think  upon  Thy  name  ; 
And  feel,  that,  on  the  Scroll  of  Fame, 
There 's  none  that  takes  a  loftier  place, 
Or  wears  it  with  a  nobler  grace  ! 
Great,  in  Thy  power  for  good  or  ill ; 
Grea^  in  Thy  Sons'  exhaustless  skill ; 
Great)  in  the  energies  of  will, 
That,  from  Thy  little  Island  Throne, 
Circles  the  earth  ;  and  in  each  zone, 
Records  some  deed  of  greatness,  done 
To  testify,  before  the  Sun, 
Of  England's  influence,  spreading  o'er 
The  World's  wide  bounds,  from  Shore  to  Shore ! 
What  if  the  Sun  does  never  set 

Upon  Thy  wide  dominions  ;  we 
Deem  it  a  nobler  triumph,  yet, 

That  the  first  Torch  of  Liberty, 
Was  lighted  on  Thy  shores.     We  read 
Of  the  brave  bands  of  Runny- Mead, 

16 


182  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

Who  wrung  from  John's  unwilling  hand 
The  Magna  Charta  of  our  Land  ; 
And  own  the  honest  pride  that  claims 
Kindred  with  these  time-honored  names  ! 
Hampton  and  Sydney  too,  are  Thine  — 

And  Milton,  Chatham,  Shakespeare,  Thou 
May'st  in  one  wreath  of  glory,  twine 

And  wear  the  garland  on  Thy  brow  ! 
We  share  the  pride  ;  the  glory,  share, 
Of  all  the  honors  Thou  dost  bear  ; 
And,  with  exulting  bosoms,  claim 
Oneness  with  Thine  all-honored  Name  ! 
Yet,  while  as^  England's  sons,  to  Thee 
We  offer  thus,  our  loyalty  ; 
In  the  same  act,  we  bring  to  view, 
The  Land  of  our  Adoption,  too. 
Thee  too  we  love  !     Thee  too  we  claim 
As  kindred  of  one  common  name  : 
Rejoice  in  all  that  proves  Thee  great, 
In  Arts  and  Arms  ;  in  power  and  state  ; 
And  shows  Thee,  standing  side  by  side, 
With  England,  in  her  noblest  pride  ! 
Long  may  Thy  glorious  Banner  wave 

Its  ample  folds  o'er  Land  and  Sea ! 
We '//,  only,  ask  to  dig  the  Grave, 

Of  every  thought  of  Jealousy 
Between  two  kindred  Powers,  whose  pride, 
Whose  noblest  pride,  should  be  to  stand 
Shoulder  to  shoulder  ;  hand  to  hand  ; 


THE    VISION    OF    LOVE.  183 

In  waging  still,  that  grandest  fight, 
For  God,  for  Freedom,  and  the  Right 
In  which,  nought  ever  should  divide 

Our  Native  and  Adopted  Land  ! 
We  '11  take  Old  England's  Flag  and  Thine, 

And  weaving  their  broad  folds  together : 
We  '11  only  ask  that  they  may  twine, 

In  sunny  and  in  stormy  weather, 
As  peacefully  as  now,  they  blend 
In  loving  converse,  to  the  end  ! 
And  should  their  folds  be  blown  aside, 
By  passion,  prejudice  or  pride  : 
We  '11  hope  —  and  this  is  all  we  want  — 
That  Little  Vic.  and  General  Grant, 
As  Queen  and  President  may  stand, 

And,  'changing  speech  across  the  water ; 
Say,  as  they  clasp  each  other's  hand, 

Peace  'twixt  the  Mother  and  the  Daughter  ! 

Nor  is  this  all.     In  its  embrace, 
Love  is  not  to  one  Land  confined : 

But,  circling  o'er  the  Earth's  wide  space, 
Takes  in  the  whole  of  human  kind. 

For  Man,  as  man,  its  bosom  thrills ; 

For  Man,  as  man,  its  measure  fills ; 

Man,  made  in  God's  own  image ;  Man, 

Encircled  by  the  Eternal  Plan, 

Which  seeks  to  bring  a  rebel  race, 

Redeemed,  before  the  Father's  face  ; 


184  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

This  is  its  measure  ;  running  o'er 

With  love  to  all,  when,  from  His  place 
Within  —  as  Life's  controlling  power  — 

God  moves,  effulgent,  in  His  grace. 
All  love  is  His  !     Of  Country :  Kind  : 

Or  Individual :  all  proceeds, 
From  His  one,  over-ruling  Mind, 

And  fills  up  all  our  human  needs ! 
He  is  its  Central  Sun  ;  and  we 
Move  in  our  sphere,  harmoniously, 
Just  as  we  learn  to  meet  each  claim 
For  help,  for  love,  in  His  dear  Name  ! 

Sons  of  St.  George  !     We  are  here, 

To  tell  again  Life's  oft-told  tale : 
To  yield  the  smile :  to  drop  the  tear, 

As  Memory  slowly,  lifts  the  veil 
That  hides  the  buried  past  from  view. 
What  recollections  here  renew 
Their  hold  upon  us  !     How  they  sweep 
Like  waves,  across  the  swelling  deep  ; 
Rising  and  falling,  as  we  thrill, 
With  thoughts  that  now,  our  bosoms  fill ! 
One  Hundred  years  ago,  and  we 
Had  birth,  as  a  Society  ! 
And  yet,  to-day  no  mark  appears, 
To  tell  us  of  advancing  years. 
No  faltering  step  :  no  trembling  hand 
Proclaims  the  weakness  of  our  Band  ; 


THE    VISION    OF    LOVE.  185 

But  stronger,  heartier,  than  before, 

We  trust  our  vigor  to  renew ; 
And  bring  again  the  days  of  yore, 

When  Childhood,  in  a  century,  grew 
To  its  dimensions  ;  and  the  dew 
Of  Youth  was  sparkling  on  his  frame, 
Who,  half  a  thousand  years,  could  claim ! 
So  we  would  trust :  and  in  this  hope, 
Draw  out  St.  George's  horoscope  ! 
Let  rolling  years  Thy  strength  renew ! 
Its  wisdom  and  its  vigor,  too 
Let  Time  impart !     Let  every  year 

Mould  Spring-time  blossoms  for  the  next; 
And  when  they,  in  their  bloom,  appear 

—  As  thoughts  included  in  the  Text  — 
Let  no  untimely  frosts  destroy 
The  promise  of  the  Autumn's  joy ! 
Thus,  still,  in  union  let  us  stand : 
Clasping  —  as  one  united  band  — 
Our  Native  and  Adopted  Land ! 

16* 


THE  SECRET. 

"The  secret  of  the  Lord  is  with  them  that  fear  Him." 

FATHER  !  it  is  not  what  I  think, 
That  is  always  best  for  me  : 

For  dangers  hover  near  the  brink 
Of  the  fancied  good  I  see. 

But  I  would,  with  cheerful  spirit,  drink 
The  cup  that  pleaseth  Thee. 

I  know  that  clouds  will  often,  shade 

The  paths  o'er  which  I  go : 
But  I  walk  in  peace ;  for  they  always  lead 

Where  the  living  waters  flow : 
And  the  fragrant  plant  is  often,  made 

'Neath  shady  skies  to  grow. 

I  do  not  fear  the  toil  or  strife 

Of  witnessing  for  Thee  : 
For  there 's  a  spring  of  quenchless  life, 

Thou  hast  opened  up  for  me  ; 
And  I  know  the  bliss  Thy  children  feel, 

When  the  Truth  has  made  them  free. 

1 86 


THE    SECRET.  l8/ 

If  Grief  should  come  with  heavy  tread, 

Or  Joy  with  radiant  air ; 
The  Lord,  on  whom  I  wait,  has  said 

He  will  every  burden  bear  ; 
And  the  Saviour's  smile  in  the  worst  estate, 

Makes  sunshine  everywhere. 

So,  I  ask  Thee,  Father,  for  the  rest, 

The  spirit  rest,  that  flows 
From  leaning  on  the  Saviour's  breast 

In  calm  and  sweet  repose : 
That  questions  not,  but  owns  as  best, 

Whate'er  Thy  hand  bestows  ! 

I  have  a  part  in  Thee  to  claim, 

Which  others  may  not  know  : 
The  secret  of  that  hidden  name 

Which  Thou  alone,  canst  show  : 
That  tells  me  what  to  Thee  I  am, 

And  sweetly  makes  me  so. 

I  do  not  all  its  fulness  know ; 

But  the  way  o'er  which  I  move 
Has  streams  of  blessedness  that  flow 

From  this  Fountain  of  Thy  Love. 
And  while  I  wait  in  peace  below 

He  guards  me  from  above  ! 

And  thus,  I  gain  the  perfect  peace, 
That  Faith  alone  can  bring  ; 


188  MISCELLANEOUS    POEMS. 

Learn  from  my  own  vain  work  to  cease 

And  in  the  desert  sing ; 
Making  sweet  music  in  the  heart 

If  He  but  touch  its  strings. 

Therefore,  if  now  Thou  askest  me, 
What  most  dost  thou  desire  ? 

I  would  my  answer  still  might  be, 
What  Thou  seest  I  most  require  : 

There  is  no  lowlier  wish  than  this 
And  I  could  not  breathe  a  higher ! 


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